Solid waste management issues rock MCC Council meet

Corporators want waste segregation units be strengthened

Elaborate discussions were held on waste segregation and solid waste management during the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Council meeting held here on Friday.

The corporators urged Mayor M J Ravikumar and MCC Commissioner G Jagadeesh to take measures to ensure proper waste segregation and strengthen waste management units in the city.

They explained that the city generates nearly 700 tonnes of waste every day but MCC could process only 200 tonnes. Due to this, waste dumped on vacant places is left uncleared. The foul smell and mosquito and rodent menace have put the residents to hardships, the corporators complained.

Former mayor B L Byrappa said that the unbearable stench was inconveniencing residents. Despite repeated requests, the authorities have not taken any steps, he said.

Byrappa also threatened to stop the existing zero waste management units if the authorities fail to take up the measures. Byrappa asked the Mayor to convene a meeting with officials and Deputy Commissioner D Randeep to discuss about waste segregation.

Corporator Shivakumar said that while the civic bodies in the state, including, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, pay the agencies that collect the waste, MCC has been collecting royalty from the collectors.

Incomplete project

The corporators made a mention of the incomplete works at the Mayura Commercial Complex on Kantharaj Urs Road which was sanctioned on October 30, 1985, after a decision was taken by the council. The corporators urged the Mayor to take measures to complete the works of the building. The council agreed to appoint experts to prepare a comprehensive project plan as per the suggestions of the Infrastructure Development Department.

The initial estimated cost of the building was Rs 2.75 crore and the then government had approved Rs 1.87 crore but the works were suspended as the contractor failed to complete the work on time. In 2005, a fresh tender was floated but the project was again stopped due to various reasons. The Karnataka Water and Sanitation Fund, a government-run trust, has now prepared a report on the project, suggesting completion of the project.  

Corporator H N Srikantaiah said that like Mayura Complex, several other projects have remained pending. He suggested that the Mayor take measures to commence the pending works within a month. He said that projects including swimming pools, aquarium, Devaraja market, Lansdowne building and slaughter house are long pending.

 Proposal to grant lands

The council also agreed to send a proposal seeking approval for the allotment of land to 245 farmers of ‘Ele Thota’ who had lost their lands for the development of the city in 1949. The MCC has identified land in Survey numbers 119, 179 and 180 near Sewage Farm. Each farmer will get five guntas of land.