The New Indian Express 24.09.2014
HC Allows BBMP to Reopen Garbage Unit
BANGALORE: The High Court on Tuesday allowed the BBMP to reopen the Mavallipura garbage processing unit temporarily for relief until any other arrangement is made and asked the Palike to submit a report before the court on October 31.
The Division bench of Justice N Kumar and B V Nagarathna was hearing a series of petitions filed by various members of the society addressing the issue of garbage disposal mechanism in the city.
During the hearing, a suggestion was made to reopen the Mavallipura unit for garbage processing after the closure of the Mandur site. The NGOs, however, objected to the suggestion claiming that the unit was no longer in a working condition.
The NGOs contended that the platforms and setup is broken and that the unit can only take segregated green waste and nothing else. However, the BBMP commissioner said the unit is in working condition and the BBMP can start processing the garbage.
Considering the conflict in opinion, the court asked BBMP officials to visit the place, fix it and start the unit. Meanwhile, the NGOs have asked to keep a watch on the unit and in case of violation, immediately report it to the High Court and it would take necessary action.
Meanwhile, the High Court came down heavily on the builder’s association for not taking responsibility to dispose of the debris gathered from construction sites. “It is your city, you have earned from it now take responsibility,” observed Justice N Kumar.
The association submitted that they would have a meeting with the authorities and discuss the plans to set up crushing units to re-utilise debris. The court asked the association not to conduct meetings anymore and get into action. The court has asked the builders’ association to come up with a project plan by the next hearing.During the hearing, the court came down on BBMP and BDA for not taking action against the society BBMP employees association that has constructed a layout on a civic amenity site.
The court asked the BBMP to proceed with the demolition of the unauthorised construction to reclaim the land in Kengeri and submit the action taken report(ATR).
Waste to compost
Bangalore: If everything goes well, Mavallipura landfill site will have a processing unit that unit will take new waste along with the accumulated garbage for processing. BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said the civic body will set up the unit with a capacity of processing around 300 tonnes per day. “It is a waste-to-compost unit. The manure produced from this unit will be given to farmers in and around Mavallipura free of cost,” he added. “There will be no more landfill sites henceforth. The city generates around 4,000 tonnes on an average every day. All this waste will be processed. It will not be dumped on any open land,” he said.
