The Deccan Herald 13.09.2010
City littered with festival garbage
Bangalore, Sept 12, DH News Service:
With the conclusion of successive festivals and people visiting parks in droves after celebrations, the understaffed civic agencies now face a gargantuan task - cleaning the littered public places.
The Lalbagh authorities have geared up in their own way to tackle the post-festival garbage, both in terms of manpower and infrastructure. Apart from 150 additional dustbins, 50 sweepers and 20 homeguards have been deputed on these days.
"About 12,000 people visit Lalbagh post festival and there was more crowd this time as it was Sunday. Majority of the crowd brings food inside the premises and litter the place with plastic bags and paper plates. We try and keep the place clean as much as possible," Lalbagh Horticulture Deputy Director, M Jagadish told Deccan Herald. The Botanical Garden, with an enclosure and restricted entry through two gates can manage garbage with comparative ease.
The Cubbon Park authorities too will deploy more sweepers and place as many as 200 additional dustbins to maintain cleanliness. Deputy Director of Cubbon Park K G Jaidev admitted that garbage menace has become a challenge after festival days in spite of deputing more manpower.
"There were even some clashes while educating people on disposing garbage in dustbins,” he said.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has estimated the garbage generation to go up by at least 50 per cent in the wake of festivities.
The present estimate of garbage generation is 3,000 tonnes per day. The garbage collection contractors have been instructed to press more manpower for service. Two trucks have been stationed at each of the four spots designated for immersion of Ganesha idols. "We need at least two days to clear the City of the extra garbage due to the festive season," a Palike officer said.
