Bengaluru: Pourakarmikas trash' activist

BENGALURU: “My parents built their house way back in 1964, the same house that I was born in. I have seen Indiranagar transform itself from being a purely residential area to a commercial area. When I saw things going from bad to worse I decided to work for a better Indiranagar,” said Sneha Nandihal, president of Binnamangala Maravanthe Kaval Resident Welfare Association.

So you might think, she was awarded or appreciated for her work towards improving Indiranagar. No all she received was heaps of garbage as ‘gift’ at her house located on 2nd Cross, Indiranagar 1st Stage on her birthday. This was because she demanded that the garbage generated by commercial establishments and bulk generators be handed over to empanelled vendors.

On Friday at around 11 am, pourakarmikas and garbage contractors, dumped three loads of garbage in front my house. I was away, my elderly mother was at home with the maid. Both of them are totally shaken. Three loads of garbage was dumped emanating foul smell.”

Sneha's mother Hemalatha is 83-year-old and is asthmatic. Her maid Valliyamma too was threatened when she questioned the pourakarmikas. “Three mini-autos loaded with garbage started to dump garbage. When I tried to question the pourakarmikas, they threatened me and asked me to keep quite,” said Valliyamma.

As for being targeted by pourakarmikas and garbage contractors, Sneha said, “These bulk generators pay money to the pourakarmikas and garbage contractors. Pourakarmikas are only meant to collect garbage from residence and not from commercial bulk generators. As I wanted to streamline the system along with other resident welfare associations in the area, I was targeted.”

She further alleged that Hoysala Nagar BBMP Corporator Anand Kumar S. was a beneficiary of the money collected by pourakarmikas. When asked about her next course of action, Sneha said she will lodge a formal complaint.

When DC contacted BBMP joint commissioner east zone K.C. Yathish, he said, “Pourakarmikas are not supposed to collect garbage from bulk generators. All bulk garbage generators have to send garbage to empanelled vendors. There are series of holidays till Wednesday. I have called for a meeting of the area garbage contractor and the residents to know what exactly happened on Friday near Sneha’s residence.”

Only after the meeting we will get a clear picture on who were at fault and what action has to be taken, he added. Corporator Anand Kumar did not respond to our calls.