BBMP trashed for kitchen pulverisers

Bengaluru: Environmentalists are strongly against the BBMP's  move to make kitchen pulverisers mandatory in households and hotels, warning it could lead to foaming in  aeration tanks and make life difficult for people in the long run.

An online petition ,which has received over a 1000 signatures, argues that  if the pipes are blocked, the raw sewage could burst out of the manholes and has suggested that  restaurants use oil and grit separators to make sure that oil and fat does not reach the drains and lakes.

The concerned ecologists warn that the Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) will cease to operate as they are not designed for the immense pressure that they will put under should this move become a reality. “If kitchen pulverisers are introduced the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) will more than the double , making it impossible for the treatment plants  to continue. In the bargain the sewage will flow directly into the lakes which have been rejuvenated recently,” they deplore.

Mr Ram Prasad, co-founder, Friends of Lake and solid waste management expert says at least 10 to 20litres of water will be required to push the pulverized garbage down the drain. “ With Bengaluru depending on water at Rs 62 per  kilolitre, how can we waste precious water this way?”he asks.

Others warn the new plan could lead to clogging of drains. "Blockages cause roughly 75 per cent of all sanitary sewer overflows, where untreated sewage is diverted from the wastewater treatment plant and usually into a body of water,” Mr Prasad explains.

However, BBMP (Solid Waste Management) Commissioner, Sarfaraz Khan assures that it will opt for the new method only after  consultation with  experts at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.).

“We have passed a resolution on this , but a study has to be done. We are only exploring the possibilities now. So there is no reason for the backlash from the activists,” Mr Khan added.