Sixty-five year-old Narayana Bhat of Kuntalpady keeps a close watch on the construction debris being dumped on the vacant site in front of the Anganwadi in Padau in Shakthinagar. “If we just turn away our attention, you will find a fresh load of waste dumped,” he said.
Mr. Bhat is among the several residents who are concerned over the increase in the instances of the construction waste being dumped at the vacant site. A narrow road adjoining the vacant plot is the only connecting link with Shakthinagar for many people in the locality.
“A week ago, a lorry came and dumped construction waste on the vacant land. A pat of the waste fell on the road and obstructed our movement,” said another resident Purushottam Bhat. The residents had to complain to the area councillor Shakila Kava and clear the road. It is said that the site had been allotted to the Police Department about five years ago.
Apart from construction debris, kitchen waste and other household waste is also dumped here. “Stray dogs have dragged the waste into the premises of the anganwadi,” said Mr. Purushottam Bhat.
No problem
However, the teacher and the employees at the anganwadi said there had not been any problem for the children because of dumping of waste. “I have seen vehicles come here and dump the waste at the site. A few vehicles have also come to move away a part of the waste,” said a teacher at the anganwadi centre, which is in front of the site. Fifty children come to the anganwadi.
Ms. Kava said she had not been able to do much to prevent dumping of waste. “I had told residents to note down the registration number of vehicles that dump waste and inform me,” she said.
Ms. Kava said she would write to the Deputy Commissioner to allot the vacant site for a school with the police not showing any interest in the plot.
Additional Deputy Commissioner S.A. Prabhakar Sharma said the administration had so far not received any complaints about debris dumping at the vacant plot. “We will take suitable action if the residents bring it to our notice,” he added.
