Garbage dumping at Mavallipura to resume

The closure of two major garbage dumping yards has led to piling up of heaps of garbage along the roads and the problem is unlikely to go away soon.

Desperate to tide over the crisis triggered by lack of space for disposal, the State government has decided to overturn the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) ban on transporting waste from the City to the Mavallipura dump yard. The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will resume garbage clearance on Thursday, but the flow to the dumping yards will be cut down.

For the third consecutive day, heaps of garbage dotted the roadsides across the City. Rain in some parts of the City on Tuesday worsened the situation with the wastes leaching on to the streets.

Over the last 48 hours, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the State government were caught in a bind, unable to solve the crisis triggered by the closure of the Mavallipura and Terra Firma dumping yards on the outskirts of the City. On Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka convened an emergency meeting at the BBMP head office to discuss the matter.

Contract terminated

Taking into consideration the “unscientific” garbage dumping at Mavallipura, the government also decided to terminate with immediate effect the contract of Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited for disposing the waste. Ashoka also announced a Rs 8 crore compensation package for the residents of Mavallipura and surrounding areas, for the agony they had to endure.

“We are trying to minimise the damage to the villages surrounding the dumping yards. Garbage will only be dumped in proportion to the available space in the dumping yards,” said a Palike official.

Citizens, however, are impressed with the efforts of the Palike and the government. “We can barely bear the stench. But how long does the State expect to live with this?” asked an angry Tanveer Ahmad, a resident of J P Nagar.

Citizens’ objection

Concerned citizens have also objected to the BBMP’s plan to raise garbage cess without cleaning the streets of the wastes.

“Has the Palike enforced segregation at source, constructed dry waste collection centers in each ward, guaranteed that sufficient lorries are deployed every day and made Bangalore a garbage-free city? Officials and elected representatives have travelled to Mumbai, Pune and abroad as a part of study tour on handling garbage. Has their visits benefited Bangalore's Garbage management?” questioned N Mukund, Joint Secretary for Citizens Action Forum.
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