Black spots: Dr G Parameshwar pulls up BBMP

Bengaluru: Taking serious note of the Karnataka High Court’s strong criticism of the BBMP’s failure to keep the city garbage-free,  Deputy Chief Minister, G Parameshwar on Friday came down hard on its officials, pointing out that it was their duty to keep it clean and announced that in future those caught littering in public or setting rubbish on fire would have to pay a penalty of Rs. 500.

“Clearing garbage and keeping the city clean is the primary duty of the civic body. Why  should it wait for the court to give directions and pass strictures?”  he asked, warning that those involved in alleged misappropriation of funds in the BBMP’s solid waste management department would invite strong action.

 Dr Parameshwar, who is also Bengaluru Development Minister, was speaking at a meeting he had called with BBMP commissioner , Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun and other officials  following the  high court’s harsh comments on the civic authority.

Warning that officers, who did not keep the city free of black spots, would be repatriated to their parent departments, he said the concerned bylaws would be amended to increase the penalty for littering from the present 100  to Rs. 500. “We have taken serious note of the observations of the high court on the lapses of the  BBMP and will enforce the new law strictly,” he added.

Noting that 15 retired army men had been deployed as marshals in some parts of the city under a BBMP  pilot project to  monitor and penalise offenders dumping garbage in public places, he said the scheme would be extended to cover the whole of Bengaluru in due course.  “The marshals in each ward will not only be authorised to penalize offenders, but also lodge police complaints,” he revealed.

Suggesting a ward level tender system Dr. Parameshwar said public and private bodies should be roped in to create awareness among the public about littering in public spaces.

The Deputy Chief Minister confirmed that the Bellahalli quarry was expected to reach its capacity soon and would be shut in three months. A terra firma in Doddaballapura would then be used to dump waste, he explained. Currently the 29 lakh homes in Bengaluru produce 5,700 tonnes of garbage every day. Of this, 4,200 tonnes is generated by homes and 1,500 tonnes by commercial establishments.