George meets SWM expert panel

In order to draft a sustainable waste management strategy for the city, the expert committee on solid waste management (SWM) has placed a few requests before Bengaluru Development and Town Planning Minister K J George and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad.

George and Manjunath Prasad held a meeting with the expert committee members here on Thursday.

Among the many requests, the expert committee has asked the civic body to have a dedicated cell for SWM within BBMP to deal with the issues pertaining to solid waste. The existing cell, has not being been effectively institutionalised the SWM experts opined.

Besides this, the experts raised the issue of a direct payment system of salaries to pourakarmikas. “The list of pourakarmikas who come under this system should include only sweepers and not helpers or supervisors,” reads the suggestion. The list also suggests introduction of mechanical sweeping machines monitored by third party supervisors.

In reply, BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad said that they are considering the matter and will arrive at a conclusion soon.