325 urban local bodies in Karnataka produce 7,304 MT of solid waste per day

Bengaluru: A total of 325 urban local bodies in the state (except Bengaluru) collect as much as 7,304 MT of solid waste everyday of which 6,083 MT are processed, Municipalities Minister Rahim Khan told the Legislative Council on Tuesday. 

Khan revealed the details while replying to a question by BJP member D S Arun. The minister said that 219 ULBs were processing solid waste and the government has taken steps to provide the facility at the remaining ones, including 27 new ULBs in the state.

“We have prepared detailed project reports (DPRs) for setting up waste processing units at 47 ULBs and DPRs will be prepared for remaining ones.  The proposal was delayed since some ULBs faced non-availability of land and some had cases pending before the courts,” the minister explained.

Khan told the Council that the government took up Rs 51-crore project for solid waste management under the Swachh Bharat Mission - Urban 2.0 project, and the state-level technical and high power committee has approved the DPR. He said that 999 works were taken up under the project of which 542 have been completed and around 467 are in progress.

“Projects for material recovery facilities from dry waste have been taken up at a cost of Rs 259 crore. The government also took up a Rs 31-crore project to establish sanitary landfills (SLF) in 226 ULBs,” he said.

However, Arun asked the government to fight the garbage mafia. “Garbage disposal is in the hands of the mafia. A big lobby is controlling it,” Arun alleged.

In response, the minister said that the government will not yield to any such lobbies. He said that an order will soon be issued on establishing a scientific waste disposal system.