There seems to be no immediate solution to Bengaluru’s garbage problem as villagers living near the two waste-processing plants in Doddaballapur taluk on Thursday refused to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
They want him to visit their villages instead and get a first-hand experience of living amid large mounds of garbage and the stinking smell. More than 500 people from Bhaktharahalli, Thannirahalli, Karenahalli and the surrounding villagers have been on an indefinite round-the-clock sit-in for the last five days, stopping garbage trucks from entering the two units.
They turned down the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) request to meet the chief minister in the City on Friday morning. BBMP Joint Commissioner (east zone) Prabhulinga Kavalikatti requested them to form a 15-member committee to meet Siddaramaiah. He said Bengaluru Development Minister K J George, who visited the protest site and waste-processing units on Wednesday, had given a report to the chief minister, based on which the meeting would be held.
But villagers refused to meet Siddaramaiah. Ashwath Narayan Swamy, one of the protestors, said: “Let the chief minister come here so that he gets a first-hand account of our problems. We are not sure if the chief minister is aware of the issue. We have been fighting for seven to eight years and don’t want any more assurances. We do not want to attend any meetings.”
On Thursday, two trucks from Hubballi-Dharwad tried to enter the units but protesters sent them away, said Rajanna T V, another resident. “We didn’t allow them in. The protest will not be stopped at any cost until the Palike stops dumping the waste here.”
Dr H G Vijayakumar, a local JD(S) leader, took part in the sit-in on Thursday. Meanwhile, Bengaluru continues to suffer the stench as garbage remains uncleared near Malleswaram Government High School at 18th Cross, Ulsoor, MG Road (opposite Metro station), HBR Layout 5th Block, Anand Rao Circle, etc.
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