Take measures to control stench from waste unit: CM to officials

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed the officials of the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) to develop an odour-control mechanism at the waste-processing unit in Mangammanapalya.

Siddaramaiah, who visited the unit as part of his Saturday City rounds, had a first-hand experience of the foul smell. Hundreds of residents from nearby Hosapalya, Kudlu and HSR Layout held placards urging him to take measures to control the noisome stench.
Siddaramaiah was accompanied by City in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Mayor Manjunath Reddy, City MLAs and officials.

The unit started in 1976 has been composting waste for some time. It has no buffer zone and as a result several apartments, schools and houses have come up in its close vicinity. The residents complained that the small unit with a 70-tonne capacity had been forced to compost 800 tonnes of waste. It has been functioning at the risk of public safety, they said.

“There are many schools in the vicinity and two schools are within 100 metres of the unit. Children have contracted skin diseases and many houses in the area are lying vacant because of the stinking unit,” a resident said.

After visiting the unit, Siddaramaiah received memorandums from the residents and assured them of action. “No buffer zone was created when the unit was set up. Now, the BBMP is handling the unit and a total of Rs 60 crore has been allotted to maintain it. It is true that the foul smell is unbearable. I have instructed both the KCDC and the BBMP to develop an odour-control mechanism within two months,” he said.

The chief minister’s first pit-stop during the City rounds was at the Minsk Square Namma Metro station. He also visited Madiwala lake and the newly constructed Jayanagar shopping complex.

Siddaramaiah said the underground metro station at the Minsk Square would be ready in a month. “The station has five entrances and only the ceiling work is to be completed. I have instructed the BMRCL officials to re-asphalt the roads around the station,” he said.

Madiwala lake has a treatment plant, which is not functioning. The Cabinet has cleared Rs 26 crore to upgrade the plant. The lake also receives water from four other lakes. The Lake Development Authority will implement the treatment plant at the lake. This apart, the Cabinet has also cleared Rs 15 crore for a road connectivity to Silk Board Junction, which will ease the movement of vehicles, he said.