Bengaluru: Leaf shedding season is on and all the streets and roads in the city are filled of fallen leaves. While the fallen leaves are nice to look and walk, there isn’t any proper mechanism in place by BBMP to collect and process the fallen leaves.
In many areas, fallen leaves are swept into mounds and then set afire. What is shocking is that this is not done by the general public, but the pourakarmikas themselves. They just do not bother to take away the leaves but prefer to set them on fire.
In one such case, a pourakarmika on duty on 13th ‘A’ Main Indiranagar was seen sweeping the leaves and other wastes under a transformer. “Imagine what would happen if the fire from the garbage spreads to the transformer. What a havoc it could unleash?” questioned one of the concerned residents of the locality.
The resident further went on to say that when they questioned the pourakarmika on why she is dumping all the waste and leaves under the transformer; she behaved rudely and did not bother to answer the question of the resident.
Instances of leaves litter on the roads being set on fire can be seen all over the city. Several residents have complained of the inconveniences created by the smoke emanating from the lit-up leaves. “Since February, the instances of leaves being set afire have become common. It is giving me breathing trouble,” complained a resident of Hanumanthnagar.
Despite the civic body claiming that it is planning to set up ‘lane compostors’ in association with the local RWAs, it has not taken off.
When DC took up the issue with BBMP Mayor Ms Gangambike, she said, “We are receiving many complaints relating to leaf burning. We have asked the chief engineer of the Solid Waste Management Department to immediately attend to the complaints.”
She said the instances are more common on the outskirts of the city. “We will take action to curb the menace,” she said.
