Despite repeated reminders from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on waste segregation at source, most apartment complexes in BTM Layout here seem to be taking it easy. A quick check revealed that many multi-dwelling apartment complexes have not been segregating garbage, let alone making arrangements to manage the waste that is generated within their complexes.
Though the two-month grace period for making arrangements to scientifically manage waste in-house has expired, the bulk generators claim to be busy in drawing up “action plans”.
Manoranjan K., secretary of Bank Officer’s Cooperative Society that has two apartments (Ram Shridhar and Bank Officers Apartment), expressed the inability to take any step in this direction as not all units in these two apartments have been occupied. “We will plan a meeting to address the issue as soon as all units in the third building that is under construction are occupied,” he said.
Asked how the residents were disposing of waste, he said, “Residents are dumping waste nearby. We have no option as the BBMP has stopped picking up waste from the apartments.”
Ayub Khan, facility manager of Epitome Crown Apartments that has 99 units, stressed the need to create awareness among residents about segregation. “We are educating residents, helpers and children about segregation of waste at source. We will soon install special bio-bins in our apartment complex,” he said.
The residents, however, expect the apartment managements to take steps for this. Sweta Suman, a resident of Ruby Residency, said, “The stench of garbage permeates the air as the private garbage collectors come to pick it up only once in three days. We are ready to cooperate, but we have not been provided with bins for different kinds of wastes by the apartment management.”
However, a few apartments, including SNN Sunlake View Apartments, in the area have made arrangements to process waste generated within their campus itself.
“We have informed the residents of all 250 units in our apartment complex to segregate waste. They have been cooperating with us,” said Ramanjaneya, facility manager at the apartment complex.
The BBMP is aware of the lack of implementation on part of these bulk generators. A BBMP official said that the civic body would request citizens to cooperate with them. Action would be taken as a last resort.
“We do not want to harass them. However, a proposal to invoke penalty on the bulk generators who have not dealt with waste segregation yet has been sent to the government,” the official said. He said that invoking penalty is not a solution.
“We need to work side by side,” he added.
