Garbage clearance in the city, over the next week, is likely to be hit. The city is staring at yet another garbage crisis, as the quantum of waste likely to be generated over the next two days – Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami - is likely to see at least 15 per cent increase.
This is because the communities living around the processing units at Gundlahalli and Chigaranahalli of Doddaballapur taluk are up in arms against the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) again.
“The disposal of waste may be delayed. But, the BBMP will clear the accumulated waste as soon as possible,” a senior official said.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, nearly 500 residents of villages near the processing units staged a dharna against the BBMP and government, demanding that both units be shut down immediately.
Their main grouse was that the authorities had not kept their assurances made to them in June this year. Govindaraj, a local resident, told The Hindu that though city in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy had promised the local communities of reducing the quantum of waste being sent to both units gradually over six months, every day, around 400-450 truck-loads of garbage was being sent to Doddaballapur taluk.
"We do not need funds, drinking water supply or any more promises of 'development'. Our only demand is for the immediate stoppage of both units. Why should we sacrifice our fertile lands for this mess?" he asked and lamented that the fertile lands in the villages were becoming barren due to garbage dumping and processing.
BBMP commissioner G. Kumar Naik said that the community members must give the civic body time till December. “If they decide to stop the trucks now, the deadline will keep getting postponed. They should let the facilities that we have put up begin functioning. We are looking to reducing the waste being sent there and keeping our end of the bargain,” he added.
Key info
Average quantum of waste generated every day: 4,000 tonnes
40 per cent is dry waste, comprising construction debris, recyclables, including plastics (thick), paper, glass and metals, and inert material
60 per cent is wet waste that can be composted
Quantum of waste generated by each ward: between 11 tonnes and 14 tonnes
Average quantity of waste generated by each person every day: 150 gm
BBMP’s expenditure on solid waste management: approximately Rs. 30 crore a month
15 per cent additional waste expected to be generated on Ayudha Puja, Vijayadashami
What they say...
Previous assurances have not been honoured. We are not ready to give the authorities more time. We want both units (at Chigaranahalli and Gundlahalli) to be shut down immediately - Govindaraj, resident, Doddamankalala
The authorities and the government have failed us. They promised to send only wet waste but several truck loads of mixed waste continue to be sent to the two units — K.V. Sathya Prakash, resident, Gundlahalli
We are trying to convince the communities to at least allow us the time we had sought earlier. We are working towards reducing the quantum of waste being sent to these processing units - G. Kumar Naik, BBMP Commissioner
