Hearing Transport Minister and district in-charge Ramalinga Reddy say that in 29 years of public life, he hadn’t seen garbage pose such a problem in the city, many Bangaloreans might be quick to agree.
In its effort to address this garbage crisis, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) launched the Zero Garbage project in 12 wards here on Monday. The project is expected to be extended to 22 wards later.
“We must look after our city just like we ensure cleanliness of our homes,” Mr. Reddy said at the event. The segregation at source initiative could be a success only with the active involvement of citizens. The zero garbage model would be emulated in the remaining wards after taking stakeholders, including residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), into confidence, he said.
R.V. Devaraj, Chickpet MLA, suggested that the project be taken up in wards where there are large markets and bus depots, such as Sudhamanagar and Dharmarayaswamy temple wards, where K.R. Market, Kalasipalya bus-stand, Victoria Hospital, Vani Vilas Hospital and Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Sciences are located.
The launch of the project, which is being implemented in association with ITC Ltd., coincided with National Recycling Day.
Several schoolchildren participated in the event, braving the morning sun and the wait for the guests; they, however, seemed to enjoy the entertainment programme that preceded it.
Ananth Kumar, MP, S.R. Vishwanath, Yelahanka MLA, Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy, Sunkenahalli councillor P.N. Sadashiva, BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan and senior officials from ITC were present.
Speaking to presspersons later, Mr. Reddy said he had already directed the BBMP Commissioner to suspend officials who did not monitor the garbage situation effectively. Contractors too would be fined, and if needed, blacklisted.
