BBMP has 3 months to get act together

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After missing two deadlines, the latest extension till February 1 to dump garbage at the Mandur landfill could well be the final one for the BBMP to get its act together as far as Solid Waste Management (SWM) is concerned.

After the villagers of Mandur raised a hue and cry for the third time, the BBMP and State government managed to borrow three more months time to set right the garbage disposal system and have promised the villagers to reduce the flow of waste to Mandur.

If the BBMP is really serious about tackling the problem, it needs to fix responsibility on contractors to segregate waste in each of the wards by setting up segregation centres.

The BBMP should also engage identified ragpickers for segregation of garbage and they must be provided with adequate accessories.

Mandur resident C. Thammanna said garbage dumping has been allowed at the Mandur landfill following a meeting by BBMP authorities and Health minister Aravind Limbavali.

The BBMP has given an undertaking to stop dumping from February 1 and also to clear the accumulated garbage there. It is estimated that about 10 lakh tonnes of waste has been accumulated at Mandur landfill.

The civic body also has the task of roping in interested companies to process the accumulated waste. Palike authorities say that Hanjir Biotech Company will be treating 750 tons of garbage at the landfill and convert it into compost.

The Coromandel Company, which has a unit in Pondicherry, will be shifted to Mandur within two months and 500 tons of garbage at the site will be converted to composting.

This apart, companies like Sataram, Ashok Bio-Tech and other companies have evinced interest in converting waste to energy and waste to oil to clear the accumulated waste, the Palike authorities added.