The garbage crisis has reared its ugly head again. With the closure of the Terra Firma unit at Doddaballapur this month, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is hard pressed to manage the 800 tonnes of mixed waste being sent there.
While a decision has now been taken to dump waste in two new landfills (quarry pits) on the outskirts, in the interim, the 800 tonnes of mixed waste is being dumped in local quarries that are neither notified nor have any approval from either the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board or the Solid Waste Management Expert Committee, said BBMP sources. Sources also said that a part of the 800 tonnes of waste is being sent to the MSGP plant, also in Doddaballapur. The communities around both Terra Firma and MSGP had recently protested against the dumping of waste, even going to the extent of blocking the road leading to the landfills. The protest was withdrawn only after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured them of first reducing the quantum of waste being sent to both units gradually, besides closing down Terra Firma by March 31.
Meanwhile, the civic body, which recently heaved a sigh of relief with the resumption of Kannahalli and Seegehalli plants after a month-long protest, is now staring at another agitation. Communities living around Mavallipura landfill, led by local MLA S.R. Vishwanath, are already up in arms against the civic body for failing to meet its promises.
They allege that more than the approved capacity of waste is being dumped at Mavallipura and pointed out that no measure is being taken to prevent odour and other health hazards.
Mr. Vishwanath has given the BBMP one week to set right all the issues. “If the BBMP fails, we will forcefully shut down the unit and prevent dumping of waste,” he said.
