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.
