[1]When the people of Mavallipura protested against Bengaluru’s garbage being dumped in their village, the government and BBMP went looking for an alternative site to dump in. As if the garbage problem is just a problem of finding vacant land. Predictably, the people of Mandur, the Palike’s ‘solution’, too have now said their land is off limits.
The city's garbage troubles mounted as people of Mandur said a firm no to the BBMP dumping its trash in their midst. With the villagers having warned the BBMP of their protest, it did not send even one lorry to Mandur on Monday, although it did dump garbage in the landfill there on Sunday.
“The BBMP sent hundreds of lorries carrying garbage to Mandur Sunday night,” said Nagaraja, a farmer from Mandur village. With the villagers of Mavallipura refusing to take Bengaluru's garbage anymore, the BBMP has been forced to dispose it of in Mandur and on land managed by the private firm, Terra Firma.
The protest at Mavallipura grew after deputy Chief Minister R Ashok announced on August 22 that the landfill there would be reopened. A protester’s death due to a heart attack fuelled the people's anger against the government, forcing it to deploy police around Mavallipura and Mandur to keep the situation under control.
On Monday the villagers were ready to form a human chain to block entry of garbage trucks and had also hired an earthmover to dig up the road if they tried to force their way in.
The Mandur landfill, meanwhile, saw a fire breakout on Monday. The thick black smoke and the stink started to spread in the villages by afternoon, and visibility dropped to less than 50 metres at the landfill. While some workers at the landfill accused the villagers of having set the garbage on fire, they denied it.
“There has been heavy police cover at the landfill for the past three days and we are not allowed anywhere near it. How can we have set the fire? Moreover, a fire at the site affects us more than anyone else,” said Anil GM, a student from Gundur village near the landfill.
The fire brigade took over an hour to contain the fire. “We first sent two fire engines at around 12.30 pm. Later one more engine was called to assist. By 2 pm, the fire was under control, but there was still quite a thick smoke in the area," said a fire department officer.
Garbage truck scam runs into Rs 10 cr: Corporator
Grave irregularities have occurred in garbage transportation from Mandur and Rajarajeshwarinagar to Terra Firma landfill in Doddaballapura, alleged JD(S) leader in the BBMP council T. Thimme Gowda on Monday.
He said the BBMP officials have connived with contractors and made double payments for garbage disposal. The alleged scam runs into at least Rs 10 crore, he said. Documents with the BBMP reveal that garbage was being transported day and night, while it was supposed to be shifted only during the night, he alleged.
This reveals that the trucks were running only in the night, but were claiming charges for the alleged morning runs too, he said. There is also a variation in the amount of garbage transported, he said. Records show that two trucks with the same registration number have transported garbage to Mandur and Rajarajeshwarinagar landfills, giving rise to suspicion.
Mandur’s people seek escape from stench
A strong and repelling smell welcomes you to the landfill in Mandur. While you want to get away as soon as possible to escape it, there is no getting away from the stink for villagers of Mandur, Gundur, Kammasandra, Marasandra, Katigenahalli, Ancharapalya, Bomanahalli and Byappanahalli , who live around it.
“The groundwater stinks and if you store water for a day, it changes colour and tastes foul. We would switch to Bisleri (bottled water) if we could afford it. We often fall sick , vomit and have diarrheoa due to the problems with the water,” complained a farmer, M Narasimhaiah of Mandur.
“We touched good quality water 80 to 100 feet below the ground in the past. But after the landfill opened, they dug 80 feet deep to dump garbage and chemicals and secretions seeped into the groundwater. The BBMP had assured us that the garbage would be segregated and processed scientifically. But the waste is not segregated as you can see. The mix of medical, kitchen and dry waste, including plastic, produces a foul smell and causes diseases,” said Rakesh GM, a BBM student from Gundur.
“Three people have died of dengue in the last month in Mandur and three more have been admitted to the KR Puram Government Hospital with suspected dengue. We have had three cases of dog bites and several of villagers being chased by dogs in a month,” said Gopal Rao, a local.
Also, the inmates of the Hosabelaku Home for the Aged and Spurthi Residential School for the Mentally Challenged Children near Mandur have reportedly developed respiratory problems and rashes since the landfill came up nearby.
Shettar gives a clean chit to Ashok on garbage crisis
Should a Home Minister double up as a transport minister and district in-charge minister for Bengaluru or the responsibility of the city should be given to someone else?
Strangely, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar finds nothing wrong in Mr Ashok visiting Assam and Manipur at a time when Bengaluru was buckling under the rotting heaps of garbage.
Mr Shettar evaded almost all queries pertaining to garbage crisis. To top it, he gave a clean chit to his deputy and said, “The minister is back in town and he will manage it all,” when asked if the district in-charge minister is burdened with too many portfolios.
Mr Ashok has been criticised by opposition and ruling party members for inept handling of the garbage crisis. Some sections of the ruling BJP have been ridiculing the government for its inaction on the issue.
Ashok, who is drawing flak from all corners, continues to defend his absence in the city and his North-East tour. “My trip to N-E states had been planned well in advance. But I had given instructions to city officials on handling the garbage crisis, before I left for Assam and Manipur,” he said.
Mr Shettar expressed confidence that the government will identify dumping yards in and around the city and use lands owned by the BBMP and revenue department for the purpose. “We have identified seven to eigth new dump yards across Doddaballapur, Chikballapur, Chintamani, Anekal and Mandur,” he said.
Ironically, the landfills identified by the government are meeting the same fate as Mavallipura with locals opposing the move and threatening to launch massive protests. Mr Shettar said, “Everything will be sorted out. We have given instructions.”
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