Waste woes may return as villagers protest dumping in their backyard

Protests that broke out on Wednesday at Mettiganahalli and Bellahalli over the dumping of waste in the quarries by BBMP continued on Thursday.

The residents around these villages were agitated that these quarry pits have become a breeding place for mosquitoes and flies and foul odour has made their lives miserable. They feared that leachate from these quarry pits would contaminate their groundwater.

Angry protesters blocked the road resulting in hundreds of garbage trucks coming to a halt. The villagers threatened to intensify their agitation if the unscientific dumping is not stopped immediately.

Agitators, led by the gram panchayat members, invited freedom fighter H S Doreswamy on Thursday to support their cause.

Sources in BBMP said on average, 150 trucks carrying at least eight tonnes of waste each dump it in three quarry pits at Mettiganahalli, Bellahalli and Bagalur. Due to the protest and road block, the garbage problem in the city is likely to aggravate.

BBMP joint commissioner Sarfaraz Khan said the villagers were demanding more facilities in the area in return for allowing dumping in the quarry pits.“Villagers have complained that foul smell, mosquitoes and flies have made their lives difficult. We have improved the facilities in these villages. Yet the agitators keep demanding more,” said Khan.

He said the Palike has no choice but to allow dumping of waste in these villages, given the fact that some of the waste processing units are not functioning.
DH News Service