Urban News

The Hindu  11.12.2010

What the city dumps at their doorstep

SOMETHING ROTTEN:With the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike outsourcing garbage disposal, there are several instances of contractors dumping it anywhere they please.

Okay, your carefully placed garbage has been picked up by god-knows-who and it has vanished from your backyard. Do you stop to wonder where that smelly accumulation has vanished? No? Chances are that it has landed in someone else's backyard.

Disposal of the tonnes of solid waste that is generated in the city is a major bugbear for the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Though several initiatives have been introduced for the safe disposal of waste, nothing seems to be changing on the field.

Residents' misery

For the past several months now, residents of AECS Layout C Phase, Singasandra, have had to put up with garbage trucks dumping waste at their doorstep.

They claim that every day, around 20 to 30 trucks dump waste at the abandoned granite quarry opposite the Begur lake.

Jerry George, who lives in an apartment complex, said the garbage is being dumped illegally instead of being disposed of at the BBMP's identified dumping yards. “The garbage is also set alight. There is noxious smoke that spreads around. When it rains, the garbage starts decomposing and the stench envelopes the whole area,” he said.

He said residents are worried about the spread of disease. “There are many young children who live in the area. The illegal dumping is posing a serious health threat to us,” he added.

Another resident, Prasad N., said the garbage burns right through the day. “This illegal dumping has become an everyday activity. The huge pit in the abandoned quarry is being used as a dumping yard.”

Complaint registered

There are serious worries about the groundwater getting polluted. The residents formally registered their complaint and submitted a representation to the Additional Commissioner (in-charge), South Zone, on Thursday. “We have no yet heard from the authorities concerned as yet. We hope that they put an end to the problem,” Mr. Prasad said.

The BBMP officials were not available for comment. When contacted, B.S. Manjunath Reddy, Chairperson of the Standing Committee for Health, said that when the garbage contracts are awarded, they include transporting the garbage and its safe disposal in the designated dumping yard. “There is no excuse for dumping it in an abandoned quarry. It has to find its way to the designated dumping yard,” he said.

Other instances

There are several such arbitrary instances in the city. “We can take action only if residents complain. We can then identify the contractor, issue notice and even blacklist him. We can also seize the vehicles,” he added.

CHITRA V. RAMANI

The Pioneer  09.12.2010

Sudhir Kumar | Ranchi

Who cut hundreds of trees en-route to President Pratibha Patil’s scheduled visit on Harmu Road in course of the preparation? It is becoming a million-dollar question as the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), which was served a notice by the Forest Department for its alleged involvement in the tree cutting exercise, subsequently denied the charge.

Forest Department on Wednesday slapped a notice on the municipal body which allegedly was involved in the tree chopping without any prior permission. The RMC has been asked to clear its stand over the issue.

The RMC did not consult the department to seek permission before chopping-off the trees. After the matter came to the light, the Forest Department issued a notice to the RMC, asking it to clarify the reason for not seeking prior permission.

The further course of action would be decided after hearing the RMC response, added an official of the Department. He said that no one can be allowed to cut the trees, as it affect the environment badly.

The official, however, clarified that any legal action would be possible in the matter if the organisation responsible for felling trees damaged them in such a manner that hamper their re-growth. The scene would be clear only after the probe is complete, said the official adding that chopping off the branches of trees did not curb the growth of trees. Therefore, no action could be taken under such condition.

Though sources at the RMC confirmed that a notice was received by them regarding the matter, Deputy CEO of the body RP Sinha denied any information regarding the development saying “I have no idea.”

Mayor of Ranchi Rama Khalkho said, “RMC has not been given any permission regarding tree felling. Coincidently, I was passing through the road when the trees were chopped off. I immediately called up RMC CEO and asked him who gave permission to cut the trees at Harmu road. Even he was not aware about the happening. The RMC that is trying to beautify the city is no way involved in the tree chopping.”

Interestingly, the Forest Department that issued notice to the RMC gave permission to cut around four thousand trees at the south east of Birsa Munda Airport. The order in this connection was given after Airport Authority sought permission for the chopping exercise to avoid bird-hit incidents. Notably, several incidents of bird hit with planes took place this year.