BBMP's garbage plan is all smoke & stench!

The BBMP’s promise to put an end to the city’s garbage problem made
citizens believe that the agency was on the right track. The last six months, however, have highlighted the BBMP’s failure to curb garbage-burning, despite spending over Rs 350 crores on building new processing plants. The BBMP should make engineers and health inspectors accountable and put an end to the menace.

“When we moved to live in the city outskirts, there was no reason to doubt our decision, with the fresh air, lean traffic conditions and plenty of greenery all around. But, now we wake up every morning to the sight of garbage hillocks and toxic fumes. The BBMP’s apathy over the garbage-burning menace makes us angry,” says Shylaja Subhash, a resident of Banashankari 6th Stage.

While areas like HSR Layout and Bellandur, Sarjapura, have launched an aggressive protest against plastic and garbage dumping,  outlying areas like Kengeri, Banashankari 6th Stage, Gubbalala, Kaggalipura, Rajarajeshwari Nagar and the surrounding areas are helplessly bearing the brunt of garbage dumping and burning. Although the BBMP and even corporators are joining hands with locals to put an end to the burning of garbage, only some have been able to succeed.

“Despite the BBMP spending crores of rupees on setting up new garbage processing plants, the contractors are unable to get the dry waste out of the city. When the BBMP commissioner is questioned he says that an  increase in vehicles may help end the menace. But if there is no proper end point to dump the garbage, what is the point of having more vehicles?” questioned a corporator, on condition of anonymity.

Uttarahalli corporator Hanumanthaiah, whose ward is afflicted by illegal burning of garbage, says there is a lack of awareness of garbage segregation methods in his ward, which results in citizens dumping mixed garbage in vacant plots.
“During regular cleanliness drives on Sundays, citizens in my ward, a mixed bunch of educated people and illiterates,  often question me where they should throw plastic  and what is the difference between dry and wet garbage! Since pourakarmikas don’t accept mixed garbage, many residents throw wet waste and dump other waste in vacant plots,” he said.

More garbage processing plants required
Mr. Hanumanthaiah adds that such garbage in vacant plots are sometimes set alight by local residents, pourakarmikas and frequently by garbage contractors. “The garbage contractors carry at least 10 loads of dry waste and on seeing  the small dumps in the area, they empty their trucks filled with garbage in the same spot and light a fire,” he adds.

He points out that the garbage collectors’ refusal of mixed garbage, improper methods of garbage segregation and excessive use of plastic were leading to the ‘burning’ menace across the city. Meanwhile, Katriguppe corporator M.Venkatesh condemned the BBMP for lack of planning in its garbage processing plants. He said that though the population is increasing, the BBMP had not set up plants to treat the large quantum of garbage and only a selected few plants were functioning, despite spending over '350 crore on six plants.

“The BBMP’s solutions to end the ‘burning’ menace like night patrol vehicles and installation of cameras in major black spots, seem to have failed to bring any relief. When contractors, citizens and Garbage Collectors  are all making the mistake, who should be blamed? The BBMP has to make someone accountable to end the menace,” he said. 

Burning trash can be toxic

As the segregation of garbage at its source has been made mandatory, another problem has cropped  up in the city — the indiscriminate burning of garbage across the city, especially plastic waste.

“The burning of garbage across the city is an indication that BBMP health officials and engineers have miserably failed in their duties. The authorities who are particular about the segregation of garbage at its source have failed to tackle the issue of plastic waste, with health officials and engineers focused on lucrative and remunerative work rather than tackling garbage issues,” says N. Mukund, secretary of Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF).

Following the High Court’s directive, the BBMP has pulled up its socks and ensured that garbage is segregated at its source. Employees are penalized for failing to do it. Dry waste is either not collected effectively or left unattended. More than anything, the BBMP has failed in manpower management, he said.

There is an acute shortage of staff both in the engineering and health wing, given the kind of work they are entrusted with. Manpower must be managed effectively. Both health and engineering staff should be made to work from 6 am to 10 am to ensure that garbage is cleared and no garbage is left unattended on footpath or roads.  Since the garbage gets piled up on the road side, pourakarmikas are forced to set it on fire, suggested Mr. Mukund.

Heath officials are more concerned with issuing trade licences and inspecting hotels and eateries while engineers are interested in executing civil works and issuing sanctioned building plans.

Volunteers and retired pourakarmikas should be hired by the BBMP to ensure that the garbage is disposed of effectively and not burnt on the roadside. These volunteers and retired pourakarmikas can be paid an honorarium as they would know the business of solid waste management, said Mr. Mukund.