Vacant lands turn dump yards

Health Menace

The segregation and collection of garbage in the City has been hogging headlines recently, yet there are many other issues related to it that are left unattended to.

There are vacant plots of land in the City, where garbage is being dumped and that has become hazardous to health.

According to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), a site cannot be left vacant for more than five years.

But this rule is seldom followed.

In the absence of proper administration, such empty land filled with garbage is causing problems for people living in the vicinity.

Metrolife speaks to some people who are facing this issue.

“Living amidst garbage poses a serious threat to our health. I got a cold and cough because of the stench emanating from the vacant land opposite my house. And the worst part is that people urinate there. I cannot even open the window,” says Stuthi, a resident of Jayanagar.

Since there has also been a rise in dengue cases in the City, it has become all the more necessary to avoid the piling up of garbage in these areas.

Pawan, an IT professional, feels that land lying vacant and becoming a dumping ground is a serious issue that needs to be addressed immediately.

He says, “There is a mini-Mavallipura (a village in the outskirts where garbage used to be dumped) in front of my house.

A heap of garbage is dumped here everyday. In monsoon, the problem becomes severe. There is also a poultry farm in the vicinity, which dumps leftovers in the area. While the dogs feast on these, we suffer. I have complained to the BBMP but I am yet to receive any response.”

This problem also calls for discipline on the part of the residents. If one dumps garbage only in the vans provided by the BBMP, there is no need to litter other areas.

Ramakanth, deputy commissioner, revenue department, explains, “We collect charges from the site owners whenever we clean the garbage from that land.

If the garbage is too much, the engineering department immediately notices it and cleans it up. However, even the residents need to be disciplined. They have to understand that vacant land is not a dumping ground,” he says.

The solution to solve this mayhem, suggests Mallikarjuna, assistant engineer, BDA, is “the neighbours who are facing this issue can complain to the BBMP wards of that area.

But, owners should also fence their land or build a compound. They should take out some time to inspect and clean up their land on a regular basis.”