Bengaluru: Soon, co-op societies to clear garbage

Bengaluru: Fed up of garbage contractors calling the shots in BBMP, the civic agency, in a bold move, is all set to revamp the way city treats its garbage.

While Namma Bengaluru is heavily dependent on contractors to pick up, transport and dispose of the 4,000 tonnes trash it generates, the BBMP’s new move may soon put an end to the ugly garbage mafia.

According to top BBMP sources, the civic agency is contemplating setting up co-operative societies in each ward, which will be run by pourakarmikas (PKs). Although the primary work of the PKs is to do door-to-door garbage collection, experts have suggested that the BBMP empower the PKs in order to make them capable of managing the garbage generated in a ward and not just collect it.

“The motive is to end the tender system in solid waste management so that there’s no competition for bidding or awarding tenders. Very recently, the BBMP tightened the tender rules for garbage contract and we had no takers for the packages. That’s when we were inspired to end the contract menace,” said the source.

Still in a very early stage, the plan is being thoroughly scrutinized by well-known solid waste management experts in the city. Experts have suggested that the BBMP allow PKs become their own bosses. And as per the plan, the PKs will be trained and taught to manage secondary level garbage treatment after door-to-door collection.

“The PKs need a lot of training to be able to collect garbage from collection points and transport it to processing plants. Also, they will need men, machinery and funds to carry out the process. Suggestions have come that we could use Central government funds to empower the PKs. But they will need hours of training to pull it off themselves,” the source added.

While it may sound too good to be true, many officials have expressed concern that the societies may struggle to survive on themselves. “Since we do not have enough machinery like auto-tippers, compactors and adequate funds to buy them for all 198 wards, we may still have to depend on garbage contractors. One way or the other, we may have to depend on garbage contractors,” an official rued.   

For now, the BBMP plans to hire machinery for rent and introduce this system in Yelahanka zone on a pilot project basis, where it has a strong hold over garbage management.