Those who live or work in the vicinity of the illegal landfill near Kundalahalli lake, which sees fire with increasing regularity, are now contending with another problem: the dumpling of mixed waste, which has resumed over the last few weeks despite the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s promise that it would be curbed.
Gilbert Millicent Nathan, who works in a tech park in the area, and is part of the local volunteer group, Kundalahalli Pathway, told The Hindu that mixed waste is being dumped at night. “Security guards at tech parks in the area have been observing lorries and other heavy vehicles dumping waste at the landfill over the past 10 days,” he said.
He added that there still were around three families living in dangerous conditions at the landfill. “They sort through the mixed waste, trying to find any recyclable items. However, the number of families living there has come down drastically,” he said.
Complaints
The BBMP has received complaints from the volunteer group on the issue. Recently, BBMP officials said they would issue notices to the owners of the property for allowing the landfill to come up illegally.
BBMP’s Special Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) D. Randeep said he had been apprised of waste being dumped again. He said the volunteer group could request the BBMP, in writing, to take steps to prevent the dumping. “We will provide support and post marshalls in the area, who can not just stop the vehicles from dumping waste, but also levy fines,” he said, and added that he would look into whether or not notices had been issued to the landowners. “The landowners have violated the SWM Rules by allowing dumping of waste. If notices have still not been issued, I will coordinate with the zonal commissioner to ensure they are issued immediately,” he said.
