Mafia controls this waste-sorting centre in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: A waste collection and segregation centre right in the city has become a haunt for cows, stray dogs and a resting place for pourakarmikas.
Nearby residents lament the place is a total mess and those visiting the park nearby have to cope with unbearable stench.

Located below the flyover connecting Domlur to Indiranagar 100 feet road on the old Airport road, this two-acre space was meant for garbage segregation. “What looks like a segregation centre has become a zoo, a parking space for tractors, home for nomads and dumping ground for construction debris. The officials have also placed a cowshed, where animals feed on the freely moving plastic from the garbage. The waste is scattered all over, be it dry or wet,” said Shivkumar, a nearby resident.

“The spot becomes a resting area for Pourakarmikas, who do not even have proper toilets and wash basins to clean their hands,” Shivkumar added.
“All of us put the effort to separate wet and dry waste, as we are aware. The garbage segregated by us, just gets mixed here. The condition is terrible. A sum of Rs 50 lakh have also been spent on a bio gas unit, meant to produce lighting for the centre and park nearby, but this is not being utilized,” said Mohan, another resident.

“The cattle owners have cut off the railing of the adjacent flyover to let in the cows to graze. At night there are people who drink and take drugs. The place is unsafe and has become infamous for chain snatching,” said another resident, on condition of anonymity.

Residents complain that the stench is unbearable, especially when it rains and the senior citizen walkers have trouble using the park nearby.  They allege that a garbage mafia controls the spot, while the corporator, contractors and other officials only pass the buck when it comes to finding a solution.

Residents don’t send segregated garbage: N. Manjunath Prasad, Commissioner, BBMP
Wet and dry garbage gets mixed at this collection and segregation centre, causing stench. Why so?
Around 60 percent of the garbage is segregated. There are compactors placed here for the purpose. The problem is caused by the educated people of the area, who do not bother to separate their garbage.  Bad smell is bound to be there from a garbage centre.

A cow shed has been built there, where animals are let loose and feed on the garbage...
Previously, the cows and calves used to loiter around on the footpath and block traffic. The corporator did a good thing by ensuring they have a separate space, not obstructing roads and also saving them from eating garbage on the street. Here, the cattle owners come and feed them grass and the cattle do not feed on plastic from the centre. These are two separate spaces.

Residents complain that the corporator made a cow shed, but said he did not have funds for toilets for Pourakarmikas
We made an estimate and requested the BBMP last year for funds to build a toilet and wash basin here, but they said it was not available. We are planning to send another proposal in the upcoming financial year and are hoping we might get funds from the Nagarotthana scheme.

What can be done about the problems at this garbage centre?
We can ask ragpickers to leave, but we should let them stay on humanitarian grounds. In the meeting we held with the public, cattle owners asked for a shed here. They might not be residents, but they must be heard too. We will clean up the space and build concrete platforms for compactors and spaces for pourakarmikas. We will have to involve in public awareness drives to ensure residents segregate waste.