Nobody in BBMP killed the Bengaluru we knew – clean, green, orderly, even gentle. If you have problems with roads full of potholes, piles of garbage, and such other ‘small’ issues, they are your problem alone, not of the army of so-called engineers, inspectors and assorted other ward officials. It’s time the Palike appointed one nodal officer who can be held accountable in each of its 198 wards.
“This does not come under my jurisdiction” is a favourite line of BBMP officials, and it doesn’t surprise people anymore. A road can be filled with potholes, a drain could be overflowing or a hillock of garbage could be staring at you in the face, but none of these apparently are the responsibility of BBMP officials! The urban local body has for long battled the question: who should be blamed for the many civic problems of the city?
While resident welfare associations and the senior officials point fingers at lower rank officers like health inspectors, assistant executive engineers (AEEs) and assistant engineers (AEs) for the lapses, these officers in turn shrug off responsibility claiming they are overburdened with work.
Says a junior health officer, “Typically, I report to an AE, who is monitored by an AEE, an Executive Engineer and then a Superintendent Engineer. We all report to the zonal joint commissioner. Though we are often blamed, it’s conveniently forgotten that besides handling solid waste management, we are also responsible for civil work, preparing budget estimates and infrastructure projects. Also, each engineer or health inspector is responsible for two or three wards. Why should we take all the blame?”
But members of RWAs point out that the health inspectors seem disinterested in carrying out their duties and often pass the buck. “These field officers are so indifferent to their work that they do not even question who is taking the garbage from their wards. As long as the garbage is removed from the streets, they are happy, not bothering that the vendors and contractors who illegally pick it up from different wards , end up burning it,” says Ms Lalita Mondretti, co-founder of Kasa-Mukta Bellandur.
These contractors even get paid a couple of thousands from apartment complexes to get rid of garbage without the hassle of segregation, according to her.
Although the health inspectors and AEs, AEEs should be made the face of garbage in any ward, it’s tough to do so, says a BBMP official. “The officers who try to bring a change are shamed and pulled up by the corporators. Those who are hand-in-glove with them are never questioned. It’s frustrating that we know the solution to the garbage menace, but are not able to do anything. The system is so faulty that erring officials at the lower level have greater leeway than honest senior officers who are transferred,” he regrets.
To find a permanent solution, the BBMP needs to have a Solid Waste Management cell working independently, suggests Mr N.S Ramakanth, founder of Solid Waste Management Round Table, an NGO.
“The high court has directed the BBMP to appoint separate environment engineers for every two or three wards and these engineers should not be burdened with civil work. It’s been nearly three years and the BBMP has still not started recruiting. There are solutions for every problem, but the system lacks the will to implement them,” he deplores.
Power from garbage: State’s new solution to crisis
The state government has come up with a long term plan to deal with the garbage in the city: Recycle it for use in power generation plants and do away with the need for smelly landfills. Inspired by a similar plant based on garbage generating 70 MW of power in Delhi and Chennai, it has asked its officers to study their operation and submit a report to it, Bengaluru Development Minister, K J George told reporters here on Thursday.
“While the current system of handling garbage is okay for the short term, in the long run the city will need such power plants to deal with it. These power plants will not need large tracts of land and nor will they give out any stench like landfills do, making garbage disposal much easier,” the minister noted.
Asked about the recent transfer of officers like Vijaya Bhaskar and Mathai, Mr George said, “He had no role to play in their removal. Mr Vijay Bhaskar is a good officer and his transfer was an administrative decision. It was the Chief Minister who ordered it. As for Mr Mathai, Mr Vijay Bhaskar himself had given a report recommending action against him. We have gone by his report,” he said.
Online platforms a boon for solid waste management
It was always, “Sahebru illa (boss is not available)” but it’s a different game today with no more long waits at government offices to meet BBMP officials. Now available ‘online’ on WhatsApp, they are far easier to reach.
Using online platforms for solid waste management has been the biggest boon for many resident welfare associations. In areas like Bellandur, Yelahanka, J.P Nagar, Banashankari, Malleswaram and Jayanagar, health engineers, AEs, AEEs and the local residents are all members of common WhatsApp groups, which ensures that an official cannot evade his duties. Says Ms Sandhya, a resident of Jayanagar, and a citizen-activist, “A resident from every street in our ward is on the WhatsApp group and we make it a point to monitor garbage collection in the mornings. If garbage is not collected from a street, the resident immediately sends photos of the location to the health inspector, who has to clear it. There is quick action this way.”
The idea of forming online groups on WhatsApp is becoming widely popular as citizens have understood that health inspectors cannot escape their responsibilities if confronted directly, says solid waste management expert, N.S Ramakanth. “Yelahanka has succeeded in dealing with its garbage as a result of the citizens’ and officials’ commitment. Even HSR Layout is following suit. We need more such citizen-friendly initiatives. The BBMP should strengthen this form of communication between officials and residents,” he suggests.
Q&A with Subodh Yadav, Special Commissioner, Solid Waste Management
Every time there’s garbage crisis in a ward, the commissioner or the corporator is blamed. The lower rank officials, who should be on the field, are not in the picture. Why?
That’s a very valid question. There are a group of people who gather information from the lower rank officers and blame the higher officials for the ‘mismanagement’. There has to be motivation among junior level officers to carry out the instructions given to them. These officers are interested in other areas of work but not in solid waste management. The officers should have a sense of accountability and a sense of belonging to change the system.
In many wards, the health inspectors are not aware of the vendors, who are picking up the garbage and burning it. Why this lapse?
To fix this, there has to be proper leadership and a combination of strict policies, better discipline and an improved system. If seniors issue 20 circulars, and an officer continues to do things his own way, it cannot always be regulated or monitored. Not all lower rank officials understand their responsibilities and this leads to such lapses.
What is the role of a nodal officer in each ward? Why are they not contributing to effective garbage management?
The nodal officers inspect mustering centres every morning and supervises garbage collection in each ward. Without monitoring or supervision from the higher level officers, they too can do little.
What is stopping the BBMP from penalizing contractors? Why are they walking away scot-free?
It’s not fully true because functioning of the BBMP has tightened and of late the contractors have formed an association to fight against the new rules. In fact, they are doing their best to bring amendments to the tender rules so they can work without supervision or BBMP’s monitoring. They know it’s not like in the past anymore.
