In a first, the civic body has brought out a manual to not only create awareness about garbage problems plaguing the city, but also set out standard operating procedures on waste handling and management starting from the micro level.
Sandya Narayanan, member of the Solid Waste Management Round Table, said the manual was compiled in just 10 days, following directions from the High Court of Karnataka to the BBMP to put in place a ward-level micro plan on solid waste management. “It consists of council decisions, discussions and directions on waste management taken over the past year. While it was not rolled out in a holistic manner, we hope, through the manual, to see some progress,” she said.
The two-part manual has already been given to BBMP councillors, master trainers and zonal coordinators and will soon be distributed among members of the 198 ward committees.
During its last hearing, the High Court noted that the BBMP had resorted to dumping solid waste in quarries in Bagalur, Mittiganahalli and Bellahalli in the city’s outskirts, much to the chagrin of the locals. It had directed the BBMP to ensure in situ management at ward level.
A lesson for ward panels
The manual outlines how ward committees should draw up an action plan based on the BBMP’s micro plan, once it is ratified. “These are ward specific decisions on how the action plan can be rolled out. The committee can set out benchmarks to be met. The action taken report will have to be submitted to the High Court,” Ms. Narayanan said.
BBMP’s Joint Commissioner (Health and Solid Waste Management) Sarfaraz Khan said this was the first time such a comprehensive manual had been put together. It will be made available for the public on the BBMP’s website soon, he said.
