A majority of dry waste collection centres (DWCCs) established by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) continue to struggle with minimal infrastructure. More often than not, a centre is nothing more than a simple structure with four walls and an asbestos roof.
Most DWCCs lack basic amenities such as power, water supply, and toilets for the staff. Apart from the inadequate infrastructure and cramped space, DWCC staff have to grapple with opposition from the locals.
K. Kumuda, who managed the DWCC at Kathriguppe, said lack of space was the main problem they faced. “We collect around 1.5 tonnes of dry waste each day. Our centre measures just 144 sq ft and a team of 15 people work here. We don’t have adequate space to store the dry waste,” she said.
ADVERTISEMENT
The DWCC at S.K. Garden faces a similar problem. “The centre is cramped and though there is space behind it, officials did not allow us to utilise it. The centre does not have a proper roof and we have fixed it temporarily using a tarpaulin sheet,” said Anderson, who manages the centre.
Seema Sharma from Kasa Mukta Bellandur said it was disheartening to see 17 workers working in a DWCC that was not just cramped, but also lacked toilets, electricity, and water supply. “The DWCC in Bellandur ward doesn’t even have proper walls. Despite these challenges, the DWCC collects nearly three tonnes of dry waste,” she said, adding that Kasa Mukta Bellandur had apprised the BBMP Commissioner and Joint Commissioner (SWM) of the situation. “It is ironic that the Indira Canteen structure that came up outside the DWCC was in place in just 15 days. The DWCC was set up in April this year and still lacks basic infrastructure,” she added.
A representative from Whitefield Rising said that of the eight wards under Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, only four had DWCCs.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We have received funds under CSR to improve the centre at Hagadur ward, but we are unable to utilise it, as the BBMP is yet to complete building the boundary wall.” The representative also pointed out that though the DWCC has been set up in Varthur ward, it has not been operating at all. “We have been following this up with the BBMP regularly to no avail,” the representative added.
N.S. Ramakanth, member, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s Expert Committee on SWM, said the need of the hour is to strengthen and improve the DWCCs across the city. “Unless DWCCs work as they are supposed to, segregation of waste at source will not be successful,” he said.
Senior BBMP officials added that in most wards, the councillors themselves were interfering with the functioning of DWCCs. “The subject with regard to improving facilities at DWCCs is placed before the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Council for approval month after month. For the past eight months, the Council has deferred the subject. It is because of this that the civic body is not able to introduce any reforms or improve infrastructure,” they said.
BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad conceded that some DWCCs lacked adequate infrastructure and said that the civic body had prioritised on fulfilling the same, besides extending health benefits for the DWCC staff.
All’s not well in this centre
All it took for the Dry Waste Collection Centre (DWCC) at Rajarajeshwarinagar ward to run into rough weather was one complaint from a local resident. This centre cllects nearly three tonnes of dry waste each day.
Nalini Shekar from Hasiru Dala, a waste management organisation which is managing the centre, said that the resident was abusive with the DWCC staff, while claiming that dry waste was not being collected properly from the ward apart from threatening to lock up the centre. “The local engineer now claims that the work order will not be issued to us because of that one complaint. We have come this far and it is unfair for the BBMP to do this. All we want is a fair hearing,” she said.
Ms. Shekar added that Hasiru Dala had now collected signatures from over a 100 residents in support of the organisation and submitted the same to the BBMP.