In an attempt aimed at reducing the burden on landfills on the
outskirts of the city, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)
will soon stop sending waste from 31 of its 198 wards.

BBMP has
identified seven wards each from the core zones (South, West and East)
and two each from newly-added zones (Bommanahalli, Rajarajeshwarinagar,
Yelahanka, Mahadevapura and Dasarahalli).

BBMP Additional
Commissioner (South) Dr K V Thrilok Chandra said they had identified
wards where there were dry waste centres (DWC) and segregation at source
was successful to a larger extent.

“We will conduct massive
awareness programmes on segregation of waste at source. Our officials
will do door-to-door monitoring,” he said. The awareness programme is
expected to be launched soon. Depending on the response, it will be
extended to other wards.

Of 198 wards, BBMP has DWCs in 70 wards. The remaining are under construction, which is scheduled to be ready by this month-end.

“BBMP
was supposed to construct DWCs in all the wards by April-end. However,
Commissioner Siddaiah requested the High Court to extend the deadline
till May as officials were busy with election duty. All the DWCs will be
ready by this month-end,” an official said.

However, in many places, the public opposed setting up of such centres near their houses, including in parks.

A
press release from the BBMP said once all the DWCs were functional, the
quantity of garbage sent to landfills will be reduced greatly.  “If
people starts segregating waste, dry waste can be sent directly to DWCs,
thus reducing the quantity of waste to some extent.”

Street Plays to Create Awareness

The release further said that BBMP will conduct a 10-day awareness programme through street plays from Tuesday. 

There
are 10 teams consisting of 11 artistes each. These troupes will perform
street plays on segregation of waste at source, in malls, parks and
other public places, the release said.

On Tuesday, the BBMP
commissioner launched a similar awareness programme in Majestic area
where folk artistes performed dollu kunitha and kamsale to draw public
attention.

Also, BBMP is taking the help of BMTC to display advertisements on segregation of waste on the buses.