Garbage crisis may hit City as grouse grows at Bhaktarahalli

The garbage crisis may raise its ugly head again in the City with residents of the neighbouring villages staging a protest and not allowing trucks carrying waste to enter Terra Firma and MSGP waste processing units in Doddaballapur taluk of Bengaluru Rural district since Tuesday.

People in villages falling under Bhaktarahalli Gram Panchayat (GP) blocked the road near Doddamankanala and shouted slogans against the BBMP for dumping the waste unscientifically at Terra Firma and MSGP units. They demanded that BBMP immediately close the units. They threatened to intensify the protest from Wednesday onwards. Shakuntala, president of the GP, pointed out that the panchayat had not given permission to MSGP and Terra Firma units to operate.

“The licence has not been renewed for the Terra Firma unit. Also, the newly established MSGP Private Limited that handles the garbage disposal unit has not paid licence fee to Bhaktarahalli GP for many years. Hence, both these units are unauthorised and higher officials have been informed,” she said.

Rangappa and Rajanna from Thannirahalli, who took part in the protest, said that the State government had given permission to operate two waste processing units in the limits of one GP. “There is a lot of space in Bengaluru city and garbage processing units can be established there. Terra Firma and BBMP officials have forgotten that human beings are staying here. In the past, we used to work in the fields and breathe fresh air. Now, we are making rounds to hospitals,” the residents said.

Mosquito menace

They said that residents are not able to stay at home due to the mosquito menace and pregnant women have had miscarriages. Local leader Saty­a­prakash said, “We have made a big mistake by handing over the farmers’ land, thinking that it will help the villagers get jobs and help the establishment of industries. The people are leading a miserable life due to the unscientific garbage disposal. Till the units are shut down, we will not stop the protest.”

The protest that started in the morning continued till late evening. The garbage trucks remained stationed outside the units. When contacted, Lakshminarasaiah, BBMP joint commissioner (west zone), said that Palike officials visited the spot on Tuesday. He said that presently waste from West, East, Mahadevapura and Dasarahalli zones is dumped at Terra Firma.

“We have not received complaints from public in the four zones about waste piling up. The lorries have not returned to the City yet,” he said.