Residents protest reopening of Mavallipura landfill site

Residents of Mavallipura, off Yelahanka, took out a bike rally on Sunday to express their anguish over the dumping of the City’s garbage at the Mavallipura landfill which was reopened after the one in Mandur was shutdown recently.

Around 600 bikers drove along the roads of Mavallipura and the neighbouring 14 villages on the outskirts of the City to express  their solidarity with the local people.

The participants spoke about the hardships they faced due to the unscientific garbage dumping by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). They also raised awareness among the public about waste segregation.

Srinivas B, a local resident, said Mavallipura landfill was reopened one and half months ago and about 40 to 50 tonnes of waste was being dumped there everyday. Mosquitoes, dogs and stink woes have started to haunt them yet again, he said.

“Fogging is not being done effectively by the civic agency, due to which we are facing problems. Along with Mavallipura, residents from the neighbouring 14 villages are also suffering,” Srinivas added.

M Ramesh Ramagondanahalli, another resident, said that the landfill spreads across 100 acres and dumping occupies about 8,000 square feet of the landfill space currently.

“As per the High Court order, only wet segregated waste has to be dumped at the landfill. However, mixed waste comprising plastic, metals among others is also disposed here," he added.

Meanwhile, members of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) released a music CD called 'Garbage Gumma', comprising five songs pertaining to unscientific garbage.

The music composition and lyrics penned by acclaimed folk artist Gollahalli Shivaprasad highlights the effects of plastic consumption by cows, contamination of groundwater due to solid waste disposal among others.
DH News Service