Cleaner city by Sunday, says BBMP

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Failing to learn from the present garbage crisis set off by its unscientific disposal, the BBMP has now identified two private landfills with a capacity to hold 2,000 metric tonnes of garbage, to clear it from the streets of the city, groaning under its weight while it deals with the forcible shutdown of its previous landfills owing to environmental concerns and people's opposition.

Revealing that two more landfills had been identified near Anekal and Chintamani, BBMP commissioner M. K. Shankarlinge Gowda promised to clear all the garbage from the city's streets by Sunday.

But the arrangement once again appears adhoc at best as the agreement entered into with the landowner says nothing about segregation or converting the waste into compost or using it to generate power to protect the environment around the new landfills.

“What he (the landowner) does with the garbage is his lookout. Since it is private property the onus is on him. But he has promised to manage the garbage scientifically. The BBMP will pay the tipping charges," Mr Gowda told the Deccan Chronicle.

“By Sunday the city’s garbage will be cleared. The Mandur and Terra Firma will accept 1,000 MT each on a daily basis.

The new facilities too accept 2,000 MT per day. Segregation of garbage at source reduces about 500 MT of waste. This finds a remedy to garbage menace,” said Mr Gowda.

Meanwhile, the villagers of Mavallipura and surrounding villages have purforth five demands and permanent solution to end the deadlock.

They demanded to scientifically manage the 40 lakh tonnes of waste from the landfill and withdraw the cases filed against villagers who fought against the garbage dump.

BBMP chief blames contractors for mess

As the city reeks of uncleared garbage, the blame game has begun.BBMP chief M. K. Shankarlinge Gowda on Friday accused Ramky Infrastructure Limited, handing the Mavallipura landfill, of failing to honour the terms of its contract.

“The contractor has flouted the agreement. Although expected to process upto 700 metric tonnes (MT) of waste, he processed only 400 MT,” he said adding the BBMP had issued notices to Ramky for failing to adhere to the agreement and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) too had slapped notices on it.

The commissioner also accused the contractor, Srinivasa Gayatri Resources Recoveries, engaged for the Mandur landfill, of failing to segregate the waste and generate power.

“Recently, the SGRR said a 8 MV power plant would become operational at the landfill over the next two months,” Mr Gowda said. The garbage at Mandur and Mavallipura will now used to generate power with the consent of the KSPCB, he said.

Supercede BBMP: Cong

Taking a strong exception to BBMP’s failure in tackling the problem of garbage collection over the last one week, Congress leaders on Friday asked the state to supercede the palike.

After visiting a garbage collection centre in Malleswaram, KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar said the BBMP has failed to take action against the officials and garbage contractors, and the government should supercede it.

“Delay in garbage disposal is a great concern and BBMP has failed in its primary duty of maintaining hygiene in the city,” he charged.

Senior Congress leader V.S. Ugrappa said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board should recommend filing of criminal cases against erring officials and contractors, or the state government should supercede the BBMP.

Give me 20 people, I will clean this garbage city: Governor

Angry over the government’s apathy towards piling garbage in the city, Governor H.R. Bharadjwaj said he can clean up the city if 20 people are with him.

Inaugurating a Bengaluru Photo-journalists’ Association exhibition here on Friday, he said law and order in the city has collapsed and the people have to revolt against the system. Attacks on the old and single women are continuing unabated, he added.

“Bengaluru has become garbage city. The government has no control over the officials. I have personally called BBMP officials and police to Raj Bhavan and held discussions with them.

They are interested in giving vague excuses. Not a single place in Bengaluru is clean where we can enjoy the old Bengaluru. Every place is covered with piles of garbage.

They have turned into breeding grounds for viruses, which have led to outbreak of epidemics like dengue, malaria and chikungunya.

“There is nothing much we can do about it. The time has come for people to revolt against the system,” he noted.

Asked whether he was contemplating sending a report to the Centre on the present situation in the city and state, he replied in the negative.

“This is a civic issue and I am helpless under such circumstances. I cannot take up such issues with the Centre. The government has to act on it,” he added.