Roads turn debris dumpyards as Palike, police look other way

Heaps of debris dumped all along the road from Okalipuram Junction to Vatal Nagaraj Road in Rajajinagar have become a common sight, much to the inconvenience of residents.

This is a new trend in the city where the debris mafia dumps the remains of demolished structures on prominent roads. Such illegal dumping of debris earlier happened on the outskirts of the city, especially at Bellandur, Bannerghatta Road, KR Puram, Tumakuru Road, Kanakpura Road, Mysuru Road near Kumbalgodu and from Poornaprajna Layout near Uttarahalli to BGS Global Hospital.

Residents say the huge vacant place near Vatal Nagaraj Road has become the most sought-after place for unloading debris. After midnight, when vehicular movement is less, debris and garbage are unloaded on the footpath in some places. People also relieve themselves at such spots, leading to unbearable stink.

Manikya K, a software engineer who travels on this road every day, blames the police for not keeping a vigil on such practices and the BBMP officials for the laxity on their part.

When contacted, BBMP commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad said there were places designated to dispose of debris, but the demolishers dump it in the city to save money.

“We have asked our Prahari team to be watchful. We have identified three quarries outside the city to dump debris. Yet, people are unloading it inside the city,” said Prasad. The BBMP would act tough against the debris mafia, he added.

In view of the growing demand for sand, the BBMP had proposed to convert debris into M-sand.

It may not be used in constructing houses, but it is suitable for other works. A unit to recycle debris was supposed to come up near the city, but it is yet to materialise.

BBMP men to deputed at police control room
The BBMP will depute two persons at the police control room to alert the Prahari vans whenever the police get inputs about illegal dumping of waste, debris or soil excavated by big builders. The BBMP commissioner plans to speak to the city police commissioner in this regard.