The city’s garbage crisis may end in another three months, Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy has claimed. This, even as Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Rajneesh Goel admitted that 1,400 tonnes of garbage lay uncollected on Garden City’s roads as on Wednesday.
A gung-ho Mr. Murthy, however, maintained that part of the solution lay with the BBMP going full steam with the 100 per cent ban on plastic bags less than 40 microns, besides other projects that are on the anvil.
Tracking plastic
Mr. Goel said during discussions with various traders, hoteliers and citizens’ groups, the BBMP officials learnt that plastic covers less than 40 microns thick come from outside Karnataka. The palike has been raiding shops and commercial establishments where such plastic bags were being used, seizing the same and slapping a penalty. So far, more than 10 tonnes of plastic covers had been seized.
While the BBMP has no data on the number of illegal plastic units in the city, it does have plans to coordinate with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to prevent plastic coming into the city. “We propose to have check-posts on important roads leading into the city. We can have teams from the BBMP also conducting checks there,” he said.
Processing units
Mr. Murthy said several garbage processing projects were in various stages of approval; while some proposals were before the government, a few would be tabled before the BBMP council soon. These plants were likely to come up in Mandur, Kannalli and Magadi taluk. Bio-methanisation plants would be set up in 16 wards. Following discussions, the Bruhat Bangalore Hotels’ Association agreed to set up biogas units in at least 100 hotels by the end of the month. “All these measures along with mandatory segregation at source are likely to lessen the burden on the existing landfills,” he added.
Mr. Goel said the BBMP would issue notice to agencies managing the Mavallipura and Mandur landfills for failing to scientifically process garbage there. Officials were analysing the contracts and action would be initiated against officials who failed to monitor the landfills and ensure that waste was processed.
No coordination
The root of the problem lay in lack of coordination. When the landfills in a few places, including Cheemasandra and Anjanapura, were full, garbage meant to be disposed of there was sent to Mandur and Mavallipura. “This increased the quantum of garbage going to these places. When the smaller landfills were full, officials failed to inform the head office,” Mr. Goel said.
BBMP authorities and the Mayor had managed to persuade the community around Terra Firma in Gundalahalli, Doddaballapur taluk, not to reject the garbage. With this, garbage will be sent to both Mandur and Terra Firma landfills soon. “This will help clear all the garbage that still remains in the city,” he added.
