The Hindu    31.08.2012

7,500 tonnes of trash yet to be cleared in city: Mayor

As on Thursday, more than 7,500 tonnes of garbage remained in the city, Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy informed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council here Thursday.

With the closure of Mavallipura landfill and protests from the residents living near Mandur and Terra Firma dumps, the garbage generated in the city has not been cleared.

The Mayor said: “We are working to solve the problem and have been meeting with Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and city MLAs to solve the impasse between the BBMP and those living near the landfills.”

Conflicting claims

Commissioner Rajneesh Goel, talking to presspersons later, insisted that garbage was not going to any of the three landfills, but senior officials claimed some garbage lorries were being sent to both Mandur and Terra Firma dumps late in the night.

Mr. Goel said BBMP was sending small quantities to some quarry pits for dumping. “We are also ensuring that the garbage is piled in as few places as possible. To check the spread of disease, contractors will be told to spray pesticide (EM Solution) on garbage piles.”

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) had agreed to hand over 212 acres in 20 different places in the city to the BBMP to dump garbage. This is apart from 20 acres at S. Bangipura and Lakshmipura. “In return, BMTC has sought eight acres from BBMP and four acres in Kalasipalya.”

Mayor Murthy earlier stated in the council that BBMP was drawing up a plan for a permanent solution. Already, 16 locations have been identified for bio-methanisation plants, while segregation points have been earmarked in 18 wards. Several projects are also on the anvil for processing of around 3,000 tonnes of waste. “The government has agreed to approve all projects related to garbage disposal pending approval of the BBMP council. To ensure there are no monetary issues to solve the crisis, it also approved the 2012-13 budget on Tuesday,” he added.

Plastics ban

The council resolved to empower zonal additional/joint commissioners and chief engineers to enforce the ban on usage and manufacturing of plastic less than 40 microns thick. The officials can levy a fine of Rs. 1,000 on first-time violators and Rs. 5,000 on repeat violators.