BBMP to close shops using plastic

In a major decision, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has decided to cancel the trade licences of shops that continue to use plastic bags.

Mayor R Sampath Raj and the council passed a resolution to this effect at Saturday’s meeting, called to discuss the issue of garbage disposal in the city.

"I'll give one week's time to (enforce) a total ban on plastic, which is not followed by many shops. After the week (is over), officials should start identifying shops selling plastic and cancel their trade licences," Raj said.

Civic body officials said the BBMP has implemented the ban, which is not strictly followed by shop owners. "We conduct awareness drives across the city, but plastic use is still rampant. Though big shopping malls may have banned plastic, neighbourhood shops and bakeries are found using it. Action will also be taken against the plastic manufacturers and distributors," BBMP's joint commissioner, health and solid waste management, Sarfaraz Khan told DH.

The council also decided to call ward-wise tenders for primary and secondary garbage collection and identify landfills based on the Revised Master Plan (RMP) 2031. "Landfills are exhausted quickly. We have to identify places outside the city limits for landfills and compost units (consistent with RMP-2031)," Khan said.

"We'll implement all the resolutions approved at the council. They’ll be sent to the state government for formality," he added.

Centre blamed for poor Swachh Survekshan ranking

Ruling party leader M Shivaraju caused a stir in the Opposition benches as he blamed the Centre for the poor ranking in the Swachh Survekshan survey. "The Centre gave lower ranks (to Bengaluru) for not using his (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) banners and posters. Is our city worse than Mumbai and Delhi?" asked Shivaraju.

Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy and other BJP corporators raised objections to the statement.

Fall in garbage management

Jayanagar MLA Sowmya Reddy, present at the council meeting, said garbage management in the city has fallen from 60% to 50%. "The number of black spots has increased, while we need separate centres to handle animal waste," Sowmya said, urging to curb hotel waste and plastic.

Start meeting on time

Meanwhile, former mayor Katte Satyanarayana has urged the incumbent to start the council meeting on time.

Speaking on the breathlessness and near collapse of Roopa R, Congress corporator representing Dr Rajkumar ward, which happened on Friday, he said the meeting is not timed properly. "The lunch break is also given late. I urge the mayor to start the meeting on time," he said. The incumbent mayor responded by assuring that he will start the meeting on time.

Loot in the name of garbage

Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy accused the BBMP governors of looting crores of rupees in the name of garbage.

"To manage garbage, the civic body is spending Rs 100 crore per month. To dispose a tonne of garbage, Rs, 2,32,588 is spent per month; Rs 7,751 is spent per day and Rs 7.75 is spent on a kilo of garbage," he said.

Action taken by BBMP against plastic Collected Rs 40 lakh fine from 2017 till 2018 Seized 1.5 tonne of garbage