The Hindu              23.12.2013

Set up waste processing units in all Assembly segments: judge

Karnataka High Court judge N. Kumar said that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) would be directed to set up garbage processing units in all the 28 Assembly constituencies.

He was speaking to presspersons here on Sunday after inspecting the waste segregation units in Kuvempunagar ward, Mavallipura landfill and the Terra Firma waste processing plant at Koligere in Doddaballapur.

Mr. Kumar was accompanied by High Court judge B.V. Nagarathna and BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayana besides officials concerned.

The visit was in connection with a case they are hearing in the High Court about solid waste management in the city. The inspection was aimed at taking stock of the measures that the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has taken to ensure that garbage collection and its management in the city is done in a systematic manner. In fact, the judges had visited dry waste collection units in the city a few months ago.

Mr. Kumar told presspersons that it would be better if garbage processing units are set up in each of the 28 Assembly constituencies in the city.

Underlining the need to segregate waste at source, he said that citizens should cooperate with the civic authorities and ensure that they segregate dry and wet waste before handing it over to the pourakarmikas who come to collect it.

“If the contractors do not supervise the segregation process as required, their contract licence will be cancelled. The citizens must also cooperate and segregate the waste at source,” he said.

According to him, 80 per cent of the waste generated in the city can be processed and used for production of gas and electricity, and the remaining solid waste could be used to make asphalt.

When the inspecting team members reached Mavallipura Dinne, residents shared their woes with them. Residents told them that as waste is dumped there, all water sources have been polluted forcing them to buy drinking water paying Rs. 30 for 20-litre can. Dumping of waste in Mavallipura has posed serious health hazards to locals and animals, they said adding that the judges should direct the BBMP to clear accumulated waste in Mavallipura Dinne on priority.

Residents of Vidyaranyapura and Yelahanka, who were at the Kuvempunagar segregation unit, blamed the contractors for improper segregation of waste. They attributed this to lack of manpower and equipment. “Ever since the new contractor took over in December last year, manpower of over 100 workers has come down to 53,” said R. Premchand, president of Kalathur Layout Residents’ Welfare Association.

Mr. Lakshminarayana said that they would implement the recommendations made by the judges with regard to solid waste management in the city. He said processing units would be set up soon and pointed out that these units would not only help the BBMP cut down on costs but would also address the garbage issue at the local level.