There aren’t enough processing facilities to handle garbage generated by the city’s one-crore population and priority must be given to creating these, averred N. Kumar, Judge of High Court of Karnataka.
The Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice Kumar and Justice B.V. Nagarathna, which is hearing several cases relating to garbage, visited a dry waste collection centre (DWCC) in Koramangala and a Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) unit at Kudlu, on Friday.
Conceding that he had not ever seen so much garbage, he said that the Bench so far had only heard of what the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had been doing to solve the garbage crisis in the city. “Today, we wanted to see what is happening on the field. We wanted to understand the actual scenario. While we cannot say that the efforts are satisfactory, we can see that at least attempts are being made.”
He said that citizens should join hands with the BBMP and not blame the civic body, councillors or the Commissioner. “There are many people involved in solid waste management, most of who are from other States. Just like we keep our homes clean, we must try to keep the city clean as well. The garbage problem will be solved in six months,” he said.
Reiterating that segregation of waste at source was mandatory, he said that if all citizens started practising it, the expenditure on transportation would be less.
Earlier, he visited a DWCC in Koramangala and enquired about the job opportunities provided at the centre.
Justice Nagarathna said that segregation was made mandatory in September 2012. “We have also issued many orders pertaining to garbage. We wanted to see what is happening to ensure that our orders are meaningful.” She said that the farmers should be urged to buy compost generated at KCDC.
The former Commissioner Siddaiah said that the garbage management could be included in school curriculum. Justice Kumar suggested that schools be invited to visit the DWCC and learn about segregation. He also suggested to the BBMP to have a dedicated team of officials to monitor solid waste management.
The Bench also visited two apartment complexes on Sarjapur Road, where garbage was being managed in-house. The two complexes compost the wet waste and sell dry waste to the DWCC. Justice Kumar suggested that the BBMP could reimburse the garbage cess (2 per cent of the property tax) to bulk generators who are managing the waste themselves.
