Palike dumped expert suggestions

Waste mismanagement is not new. It is a problem which began in the early 2000s, experts say.According to them, the landfill conundrum could have been averted had the Palike heeded expert suggestions.

Environment experts who worked intensively on solid waste management said the suggestions made by Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) in 2004 were not taken seriously by the City authorities.

Sheena T K, an environment professional, recalls that the Palike had not even consulted the villagers near the identified landfills as suggested by BATF. “The Palike should have taken the opinion of the public, conducted an environment impact assessment and then designed the landfills in a scientific manner,” she notes.

The BATF, in collaboration with other departments, had offered strategies to the Palike to dispose of urban waste, which has not been perceived even today by the authorities. “If they are legal, there should be a notification and garbage shou­ld have been disposed of scientifically,” she says.

According to Vittalkumar A Dhage, environment and energy professional, the attitude of BBMP in handling the waste problem shows that it lacks planning. “The only facility that the City has to handle waste is transportation. It just adopts a Nimby approach, meaning garbage dumping ‘not in my backyard’,” he said.

Vittal says landfills should be designed scientifically. Before deciding on them, one must take into consideration the groundwater, soil and the aesthetics of the site. “Odour and pollution should be managed scientifically. The land should be dug deep, must not allow leachate (a liquid concoction of toxins in waste).

Once the dumping is completed, it should be covered and ensured that no leachate seeps in,” he explained. Sheena agrees that scientific management of waste is extremely critical. Only inert waste should go to a landfill.

“The BBMP should take the responsibility of ensuring segregation at the household level,” she says.