At Kasturi Nagar Third Cross, a dried up lake is being used by the BBMP contractors to dump garbage. Whenever residents protest, they take the easy way out of torching the garbage, leading to air pollution and health hazard. Moreover, the garbage mafia had earlier threatened residents,who are wary of
raising the issue
Bengaluru: The city’s poor rankings in Swacchta Survekshan this year has failed to knock off the inertia of our civic authorities. The city continues to be dogged by garbage pile ups and lakes remain polluted and continue to face encroachments.
At the Third Cross in Kasturi Nagar and service road a dried up lake is being used by the BBMP contractors to dump garbage. Whenever residents protest they take the easy way out of torching the garbage, leading to air pollution.
The presence of garbage mafia in the vicinity, has struck fear in minds of residents. They are wary of speaking to the media and are also cautious while raking up the issue with the officials.
Manu Rishi, who has been staying at Kasturi Nagar for the past seven years, felt though the frequency of garbage burning has come down, but the menace is far from over.
“A nearby lake body which has dried is being used for the dumping of garbage and if we protest, the contractors burn the garbage. One can witness a sea of trucks lined up at Third Cross to dump garbage. The area is surrounded by houses and it is a major source of discomfort for all of us. Moreover, the corporator is least interested in installing CCTV cameras,” he added.
The fence around the lake is broken and residents allege the area is being used to carry out anti-social activities such as public consumption of alcohol and brawls. Hence people are wary of going near the area in evening.
Another resident T.S. Murthy wanted the residents to register themselves as voters as he felt only then the politicians would stop taking them for granted.
“Those who have moved to city to take up employment and plan to stay for the next 7-8 years should register themselves as voters. Their exclusion from state’s voting list makes the politicians feel that even if they ignore our civic issues nothing will happen to their electoral prospects. The garbage burning and dumping has become a health issue and since this is a remote corner nobody bothers,” Murthy explained.
Deccan Chronicle has learnt that BBMP contractors had threatened residents for confronting them over garbage burning issue.
This blatant violation of garbage disposal rules raises serious questions regarding civic and law and order issues.
“Clean air is our right. Forget authorities, I have rarely seen media listening to us. These issues need to be addressed. People are falling sick. Is the Palike trying to turn this place into a patient’s area? This must stop and Officials should be made accountable,” said Shabbir Alam, a daily commuter.
Lakes are hardly rejuvenated unless conservationists jump in and here an entire water body is being used to dump garbage, he lamented.
Interview with Mayor Sampath Raj
For the past 2 years, garbage is being burnt at Kasturi Nagar and nothing is being done by the authorities?
We will look into the matter. No water body can be used as a garbage transit point.
CCTV cameras were supposed to be installed but the plan is yet to be implemented?
The budget for CCTV cameras was approved recently, and the process to instal cameras will start. We will give top priority to Kasturi Nagar.
Storm water drains in several areas are filled with plastic. Is the plastic ban being implemented strictly?
We know the problem and the ban is being been implemented strictly by the BBMP. SWDs are being cleaned up and the complaints are being addressed.
