The city’s garbage problem has only been compounding since the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board ordered the closure of the Mavallipura landfill
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will soon frame an action plan for effective disposal of solid waste from the city, besides providing facilities and help to the communities near the three dumps (Mavallipura, Mandur and Terra Firma in Doddaballapur).
This decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy and new the Commissioner, Rajneesh Goel.
Up in arms
The city’s garbage problem has only been compounding since the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) ordered the closure of the Mavallipura landfill. It has been two days since residents near the Mandur landfill commenced their blockade. And now, communities near the Terra Firma landfill have threatened to stop trucks from dumping waste after August 30.
At the meeting, Mr. Murthy said he had already spoken to the jurisdictional MLAs and local leaders of Mandur. “From Wednesday, small quantities of garbage can be sent to landfills in Mandur and Terra Firma.”
Sources said the meeting discussed in detail the problems in Mavallipura and Mandur, including those faced by the communities there. It was pointed out that though KSPCB has ordered the closure of the Mavallipura landfill, there was no restriction on processing of the garbage that has already been dumped there. The meeting decided to direct the company managing the dump yard (Ramky Enviro Engineering Ltd.) to take up waste processing.
Among the options discussed to tide over the crisis was a suggestion that the city’s trash be dumped temporarily at a quarry pit in Bingipura and another one on Bannerghatta Road. Measures would be taken to operationalise these immediately. Prominent among the long-term plans included setting up 16 bio-methanisation plants in the city, setting up segregation points at the ward level and making segregation of waste at source mandatory.
Land sought
Earlier, Mr. Murthy told mediapersons BBMP would urge Revenue Minister K.S. Eshwarappa to sanction land to the civic body on the city’s outskirts to create dump yards. There is also the proposal to implement 100 per cent ban on plastic after discussing the issue at the government level.
Adviser to Chief Minister on Urban Affairs A. Ravindra, Deputy Mayor L. Srinivas, Ruling Party Leader N. Nagaraju, BBMP Standing Committee for Public Health chairperson S. Venkatesh Babu, senior BBMP officials and councillors participated.
For a city like Bangalore where there is non-availability of space
for disposal of solid waste, it is better to replace our old
fashioned plastic by d2w oxo-biodegradable plastic. 100 per cent ban
on plastic bags is not the solution as BBMP is not considering other
short-life plastic products such as plastic used for packaging of
products.
D2w oxo-biodegradable plastic which degrades in the environment by a
process of oxidation initiated by an additive formulation, and then
biodegrade after their molecular weight has reduced to the point where
naturally-occurring micro-organisms can access the material.
D2w oxo-biodegradable additive can be included in normal manufacture
by Indian plastics factories without any loss of jobs, and at little
or no extra cost.
If KSPCB could legislate to require all short-life plastic products
(not just shopping bags) to be made from d2w oxo-biodegradable
plastic, we can all help win the war against plastic waste as done by
UAE.
1. Plastics should be banned with immediate effect
2. Citizens should segregate waste at source. take active interest in recycling kitchen waste and produce manure for gardening.
3. BBMP Should identify small areas (half or one acre plots) for each ward where further segregtion is done and Waste handled effectively. This will reduce lorries carry unsorted waste all over the city.
This will go a long way in managing waste effectively.
Bangalore garbage can be dumped at KGF mine which is 3 miles deep and unused for several decades. BBMP should obtain government approval and use the land and mines for dumping of garbage. garbage can be transported to KGF by train.
It is right time BBMP take up long term garbage disposal methods, like
generating electricity, separation at source. Non Biodegradable waste
generated waste in potentially very unsafe to environment.
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