Bengaluru: Tired of a stretch of Kanakapura Road near Yelachenahalli turning into a garbage dump, area residents have decided to clean up the spot themselves and put up a metal fence to prevent people from dumping garbage there. The entire project will be crowd funded.
“We have raised around Rs 1.10 lakh so far. The cleaning will continue for the next three days with the help of the BBMP and an NGO. The fencing will start from September 18,” Mr Aleem, a local resident said.
The other residents alleged that shop owners from surrounding areas were throwing garbage at the spot, but the BBMP refused to either clean it up or take action against the violators for the last two years. After the residents wrote a letter, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) directed the BBMP last month to clean up the area, but no steps were taken.
“Owners of meat shops threw animal waste here, and there were
packs of dogs feeding on the meat. As the garbage mound grew, leachate started percolating down into the ground, polluting the groundwater sources,” they complained.
“The dump was close to the BMTC bus-stop and it was difficult for commuters to wait here as the stench was unbearable. One of the residents had to be admitted to a hospital for chikungunya,” Mr Aleem said.
After cleaning up the area, the BBMP will take care of it for the next two months and may also install CCTV cameras along with a notice board, warning the violators. Mr Aleem said that the BBMP proposed to put up a green net around the spot, but the residents did not agree, saying it would not last even 24 hours.
“After a lot of efforts, we have convinced the BBMP to clean up and cover the place. It costs a little high to fence and beautify the area. Since we are doing it for a stretch of 500 metre, we have estimated the cost to be at least around Rs 1 lakh,” he said.
