The New Indian Express 03.12.2013
The BBMP will soon rely on the expertise of civic officials of the US
city of San Francisco to help deal with the city’s solid waste
management issues.
On Monday, the BBMP signed a memorandum of
understanding with the US City on cooperation in waste management and
recycling in the presence of San Francisco Mayor Edwin M Lee, who is in
Bangalore on an official visit.
According to the agreement, both
cities would work towards collaboration, technology exchange and
knowledge transfer in the fields of solid waste management, including
zero waste, to support and encourage trade and investment that would
benefit both countries.
Ten other MoUs with various government agencies were also signed on the occasion.
Lee
said his city recycles 80 per cent of the waste generated there. “We
have the highest rate of recycling waste in our country and are trying
other means of technology to reach 100 per cent. We do not want to dump
waste in landfills,” he added.
He said they are ready to share
their waste management techniques with Bangalore. Lee said nearly 50 per
cent of the non-recycled materials can be recycled.
He noted the need to work with product packaging industries that manufactured recyclable materials.
Lee
boasted about his city’s water supply, declaring it did not experience
shortages and also supplied water to other US states. “Our water is so
pure that we can clean IT chips with it,” he said.
“There is a
need to provide H1B visas, which means more Indians will come to the US.
I shall speak to President Barack Obama in this regard,” he added.
Visiting Official Invokes Gandhi
San Francisco Mayor Edwin M Lee said he is a follower of Mahatma Gandhi.
Reiterating Gandhi’s words “You must be the change you want to see in the world,” Lee said the statement was in his spirit.
“I am here to accomplish the change we wish to bring,” he added.
District
In-charge Minister R Ramalinga Reddy told the visiting delegation that
Bangalore is the most investment-friendly city in India.
Mayor-led Panel to Visit US
Bangalore:
A delegation led by Mayor B S Sathyanarayana is likely to visit San
Francisco soon to get hands-on experience on the best practices in solid
waste management (SWM) systems in the US.
Bangalore Urban
District In-Charge Minister Reddy said,”They have invited us. Bangalore
and San Francisco are sister cities for the past five years. It is a
routine trip.”
The delegation will consist of four to five people, including the Mayor.
Reddy
said, “They (San Francisco City) might take care of the expenditure. If
not, the State government and BBMP will take care of it. It is too
early to comment about it, as the details are yet to be worked out.”
Meanwhile,
a senior BJP councillor said, “It is expected to cost `3 lakh per
person for flight charges and other expenses. A team of at least ten is
expected to fly, including councillors and officials.”
“The Mayor
is from the BJP and the Deputy Mayor is a Congressman. Both are expected
to make the trip. We cannot leave out Congress and JD(S) councillors,
as they might oppose the move. San Francisco city authority may take
care of their stay,” the councillor added.
How the US Assistance Helps B’lore
