Day two of the BBMP's cleaning drive in the city was marred by rain. But this massive effort of the Palike, which managed to rid the city of four tonnes of waste on day one, continued. The cleaning squads visited Koramangala, Bellandur, HSR, JC Road, Ulsoor, RT Nagar and Ejipura on Monday.
With over 100 Solid Waste Management workers on the job, the target is to clear over 10 tonnes of garbage in two days. Back in 1991, the BBMP began dumping waste along Hennur Road and packs of dogs infested the area, growing rapidly in number, and attacking livestock, cattle and even the occasional human being. Eleven years later, the waste menace continues with overflowing landfills in Mavallipura and Mandur leading to a pile-up of four days of rotting garbage in the city.
The BBMP's problems only multiplied as another landfill on Bagalur Road was closed after protests by farmers. Segregation of waste at source is the only way out, say city NGOs and waste practitioners. "Bringing all the waste practitioners together to collaborate with the BBMP was our way of showing them that there was backend help to support them," said Ms Kalpana Kar of City Connect. For once, the focus is on a viable solution, not just a new way of dealing with an old problem.
“Segregation at source should be made mandatory, there is no other way,” stressed Ms Kar. Members of the drive demonstrated how it could be done. Dry waste was separated from wet waste and the quantity of garbage to be disposed of reduced drastically. The idea now is to set up composite waste management clinics to take care of dry waste locally, and also make waste segregation a must for industries and enterprises of all kinds.
The drive ended with a meeting with BBMP commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda. “The concept we explained to them was very well received. They have agreed to start work as soon as possible,” said an optimistic Kar. The BBMP is also reportedly looking at other methods of garbage disposal like bio-methanation.