With the Tumkur City Municipal Council yet to take a decision on the demand of Ajjagondanahalli residents to stop dumping garbage near their village, waste management has hit a roadblock here.
The city is spread over 51.89 sq. km and has a population of 3,05,000. Its 40,968 non-slum households, 24,432 slum households, over 8,055 commercial establishments, 260 meat shops, 150 private nursing homes and two private medical colleges generate 114 tonnes of solid waste every day. Despite this, the civic body does not have a dumping yard.
The former councillor K.P. Mahesh alleged that tractors were being used to dump waste in rural areas on the outskirts of the city at night. He said garbage was also being dumped in parks and tanks, like Akka-Thangi.
He alleged that garbage had not been lifted for months from Kuripalya, N.R. Colony, Batawadi, Maralur Dinne, Nazarabad, Santhepete and Kothithopu, and residents were suffering from diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea and tuberculosis.
Jayamma of Kuripalya told The Hindu , “My children suffer from diarrhoea and fever almost every 15 days because of the flies and mosquitoes that hover around the garbage being littered near my house.” She added that she had to ensure that flies did not come in contact with food and other eatables.
The CMC acquired 41 acres near Ajjagondanahalli around seven years ago to build a solid waste plant. But attempts to build a compound wall failed due to the opposition of local residents who feared living with a foul smell and contamination of water bodies in the village.
The CMC succeeded in building a compound wall, but village residents are not allowing dumping waste there.
Tumkur Mayor Geetha Rudresh told The Hindu , “No decision has been taken over this issue as the model code of conduct is in force.”
Rafeeq Ahmed, MLA, said efforts would be made to persuade village residents to allow dumping of garbage. “We will try to solve the problem as early as possible,” he added.
Ajjagondanahalli residents oppose dumping of waste
in their village
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