Garbage continues to raise stink in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: In the wake of shutting down of Terrafirma landfill from March 31, the garbage crisis has multiplied across the city with mounds of garbage at every street corner. The recent Ugadi festival has added to the garbage woes.

Although the civic bodies have been directed to do away with the concept of landfills, the BBMP has yet again identified eight more places for scientific fills or dumping. With bitter experience at Mandur and Mavallipura landfills, where unscientific dumping had caused health hazards to local population, the communities living around the proposed landfills too had raised their apprehension.

BBMP special commissioner (solid waste management) Subodh Yadav told Deccan Chronicle that eight new places have been identified and the civic agency has sought for necessary approvals from different agencies, including Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

It took some time for the BBMP to make scientific preparations such as providing concrete platforms, vents for gas to prevent eruption of fire and leachate trap. Bellahalli in North Bengaluru is one of the eight places, he said.

Garbage is being diverted to other plants and it is being cleared from the streets. The garbage found on the street corners got accumulated during the first week of April and that is also being cleared, Yadav assured.

Communities living around the proposed landfills need not fear as the dumping yard is being developed scientifically. The landfill will be provided multiple layers of construction to prevent seepage and contamination of ground water. In addition, after achieving its maximum capacity, it would be developed into a park or garden, he said.

Since scientific waste processing plants cannot be created overnight, the BBMP has been resorting to alternative measures. Besides, festival related garbage has been addressed by burying garbage at nearby parks, which naturally gets converted into compost, he added. Unless 100 per cent segregation of garbage at source is achieved, it would be difficult to deal with garbage crisis, he rued.