Bengaluru: School's garbage poses threat to neighbours

BENGALURU: For the past five years, residents of Anandi Villa Apartment on 13th Cross, 4th Main in Malleswaram have been living next to a garbage dump which they have nothing to do with. The residents complain that a school next door dumps garbage in its own backyard, posing a health threat to the residents of the apartment and others living nearby.

“There is a lot of garbage here. Leaves, paper and leftover food is thrown haphazardly. It smells bad and is damp all the time. During rains, the situation gets worse, as there is no outlet for the water, and no points for the water to seep into the ground,” complained Ms Shachi Irde, an apartment committee member.

Pools of stagnating water turn fertile ground for mosquitoes to breed. “Children in the school and families staying in the vicinity have become the target of dangerous diseases.  Many in our apartment have been affected by dengue, chikungunya and malaria. We have complained to the principal, but nothing has changed,” she said.

The residents complained to the civic authorities several times, but the area was cleaned only occasionally. Now, the residents get it cleaned themselves, but it is expensive. “We do it once in three months. Last time, a resident paid Rs 4,000 to get the garbage cleared. Now, Anandi Villa residents have to pitch in Rs 1,500 a month to clean the premises,” she said.

“I met Junior Health Inspector Rahamath Khan. Every time I speak to him, he says he’ll do it, but does nothing. He got the place cleaned only once so far and that too partially,” said Geetha Suresh, committee member. But Mr Khan said he gets the compound cleaned often.