Melting the trash mounds an uphill task

Even as Mandur residents are happy that dumping of garbage has completely stopped at the landfill, there is no immediate end to their miseries.

Huge quantity of garbage that has piled up at the landfill over the years has been a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. Besides, the accumulated waste has been attracting hundreds of stray dogs.

Local residents said that despite the BBMP stopping the dumping of garbage, they had to use mosquito nets to protect themselves. “More than the mosquitoes, it is the flies that are making our lives miserable. The presence of several stray dogs around the landfill is scary,” they added.

People bound for Mandur and neighbouring villages fear to the take the Avalahalli Main Road that abuts the landfill. Locals also complain that garbage dumped at the landfill has been contaminating the groundwater. The problem will persist till the entire garbage at the landfill is cleared or processed. According to the BBMP officials, the total cost of the waste clearance project is Rs 90 crore.

Meanwhile, Joint Commissioner (Health), BBMP, K C Yathish Kumar said that they would start setting up the bio-remediation plants at the landfill once the project gets green signal from the State Finance department.” As the cost of the project is more than Rs five crore, we have to float a global tender. There are about 20 lakh metric tonnes of waste at the landfill area, presently. Most probably two plants would be set up,” he added.