The Hindu 05.09.2012
More plans to end garbage woes
Staff Reporter
The garbage issue does not show any sign of abating in
the city as the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is still
finding it hard to tackle the situation. With communities living near
dump yards that are largely unscientific erupting into protests, the
civic body is striving to find a solution to the problem.
The
BBMP is contemplating on an action plan to develop areas surrounding
the dump yards, besides appointing Municipal Magistrates. With more
communities protesting against garbage being dumped in their back yards,
the BBMP has decided to provide basic civic facilities there.
Criticising Srinivas Gayathri Resource Recovery Ltd. for failing to
fulfil the tender conditions prescribed for the landfill at Mandur, BBMP
Commissioner Rajneesh Goel directed the officials to issue a notice to
the company. The officials were also asked to supply potable water
through tankers to the villages and organise health camps regularly.
Municipal Magistrates
If
all goes as per plan, the BBMP will have Municipal Magistrates at the
ward level. These magistrates will have the powers to levy penalty on
offenders for littering.
Mr. Goel said that this was
still in the preliminary stage. “However, this appointment will be the
first in the State. A senior official will be appointed at the ward
level who will oversee the implementation of the ban order on the use of
plastic and segregation of waste at source. He will have the power to
levy penalty on violators.” Senior officials said that the BBMP can
impose penalty under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976,
albeit only after conviction.
Unused funds
The
adage “better late than never” seems to be true of the BBMP. The civic
body has woken up to the unutilised Rs. 37 crore granted by the 13th
Finance Commission to be used for setting up segregation centres. The
BBMP has not utilised this fund since 2007. This fact was revealed at
the review meeting chaired by Mr. Goel, who immediately directed the
officials concerned to identify suitable places and set up segregation
centres.
Protest
On Monday, residents of Bettadasapura staged a protest against the dumping of garbage.With
Mavallipura shut down by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board
(KSPCB), it is said that the BBMP is sending nearly 1,500 tonnes of
garbage to Mandur and some to Lakshmipura on Bannerghatta Road.
Contractors are also sending garbage to some private landfills across
the city.
Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy said that the
land identified at S. Bangipura would soon be ready and garbage could be
sent there as well.
