With methane continuing to leak out of the Lakshmipura landfill near Bannerghata, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to install CCTV cameras to ensure that the dumped waste is properly capped with soil.
During a visit to the site on Wednesday, BBMP administrator T.M. Vijay Bhaskar was confronted by angry residents who said that they were living over what amounted to be a large cylinder.
Methane gas – generated during anaerobic digestion of organic waste – started to leak out of cracks in the soil over the dumpyard on Monday.
While the region lies beyond BBMP limits, it is dumping of waste by BBMP trucks – as well as private trucks dumping illegally – that has caused problems in the area.
“This is a result of unsegregated waste not being properly capped with mud. We will install CCTV cameras to see that the mud being sent to the site is properly capped. The cameras will also help us identify unauthorised trucks which have been dumping waste into the dumpyard,” Mr. Vijay Bhaskar said.
He believed that until the setting up of six under-construction segregation units on the outskirts of the city, the problem would persist.
Drinking water
During the visit, residents said the groundwater and surface water in the area had been contaminated by leachate from the dumpyard. BBMP officials were shown the putrid, brownish-water that comes out of borewells in the region.
“We will be supplying Cauvery water, through tankers, for the residents immediately. In the long-term, we will set up Reverse Osmosis water purification at a cost of Rs. 1.88 crore. The work orders will be sent on Thursday,” said the administrator.
BBMP has also offered to pay the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to give piped water connections in the area.
