The sudden appearance of piles of garbage along Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, between Bidadi and Ramanagaram, suspected to have originated from southern and south-eastern parts of Bengaluru over the past few days, has sent the public into a tizzy.
Mounds of garbage have been frequently appearing along the highway, especially between Bidadi and Kallugopana Halli, for the past several weeks at Bhairamangala Cross, Kallugopana Halli, Kempanahalli, Ramadevara Pada, near Ramanagaram and Bidadi.
While the local residents accused the Bidadi Grama Panchayat of dumping garbage during midnight, some blame the Ramanagaram City Municipal Council (CMC) for the issue. However, with several plastic covers with addresses of shops in south and south-eastern parts of Bengaluru found in the dumped waste, it is also suspected that garbage from the city is being dumped clandestinely.
City Mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy pointed out that the garbage problem that was threatening to raise its head again in Bengaluru has been solved, albeit temporarily. He said the garbage collected by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) contractors goes only to the designated processing units at Gundlahalli, Chigaranahalli, Bommanahalli, Bingipura and Lakshmipura. He also said that with residents on the city outskirts vigilant to any dumping, indiscriminate disposal of waste was not possible.
“Some bulk generators have hired private contractors to clear the waste from their premises. It could be these contractors dumping the waste along the highway. The only option is to trace the vehicles with help of CCTV images,” he said.
Both the Bidadi Gram Panchayat and Ramanagaram CMC have categorically denied their role behind the appearance of garbage mounds along the highway. The CMC has reportedly collected samples from the site to ascertain the origin of the waste.
Dumping and burning of garbage/debris along the highway has been posing a danger to motorists, besides posing a health hazard to residents. K. Mayannagowda, Commissioner of Ramanagaram CMC said that the 30 tonnes generated in the town is dumped in four places owned by the councillors.
He also added that CMC’s garbage vehicles are fitted with GPS, while the dumping process is video recorded.
The Bidadi Gram Panchayat and Ramanagaram CMC have denied their role behind the appearance of the garbage mounds
