BENGALURU: The two-day-old stalemate between the civic body and landfill villages over infrastructure development funds ended late Wednesday night with the state govt announcing a Rs 550-crore package.
The move, officials hoped, would restore normalcy in garbage-disposal operations which had come to a halt at Bellahalli dumpsite for the past two days following protests from residents over broken roads and failing health.
Nearly 600 families live in Bellahalli and Mittaganahalli, where the 30-acre landfill receives close to 1,500 tonnes of waste from Bengaluru every day. The blockade had ripple effects across Bengaluru. Several neighbourhoods — parts of Kalasipalya, JP Nagar, Konanakunte, RR Nagar, BTM Layout, Sahakarnagar, Rajajinagar, Basaveshwaranagar and Kammanahalli, among others — reported waste was not collected. Buckets and garbage bags were seen piled outside homes and on street corners, raising fears of fresh blackspots emerging across the city.
The authorities, including deputy CM DK Shivakumar, did some tough talking initially. However, residents refused to budge. "We are living next to 1,500 tonnes of garbage every day. The smell is unbearable, groundwater is polluted, and we don't have a regular drinking water supply," said Gangesh Manjunath, a resident of Mittaganahalli.
"We depend on tankers for daily water. If the govt can dump the city's waste here, can it not provide us with basic facilities," said Lakshmamma Gowda, another villager, adding, "For years, we have asked for proper roads, drinking water, and health facilities. They remember us only when they want to send garbage trucks. This protest is our last resort."
Not wanting the garbage issue to spiral out of control, Bengaluru Solid Waste Management on Wednesday night assured release of funds. "Village development funds have been allocated as follows and an order has been issued: Rs 90 crore each for Mahadevapura, Byatarayanapura, and Yeshwanthpur; Rs 50 crore for Anekal; Rs 20 crore for Bengaluru South; and Rs 10 crore for Doddaballapur. In addition, in phase 2, Byatarayanapura and Mahadevapura will receive an additional Rs 100 crore each," confirmed Kari Gowda, CEO of BSWML.
"We have also taken a decision to minimise the number of vehicles going to the landfill in the coming months and to confine waste transportation in a more regulated manner," Gowda added.
Reactions + Mugshots:Chennakrishna V, former panchayat member of Mittaganahalli and resident: There is a huge quantity of organic and mixed waste being dumped here. Because of this, leachate is being generated, and it is contaminating our borewells. We do not even have safe drinking water anymore.
Our homes are filled with mosquitoes, and we can barely keep our doors and windows open. When the deputy chief minister visited us, he said they were aware of the issue but did not know where else to dump the waste. How are we supposed to know if the govt does not know?
Ramanji RT, stonecrusher-supervisor and resident of Mittaganahalli: There is leachate stagnating near our workplace and residential areas. Every day, we have to use motors to clean our sumps. Even then, we can barely breathe because of the stench. There are heavy mosquito infestations and there is no clean drinking water. Many have skin irritation and itching. There are no proper roads. Nothing is being done despite our complaints.
Syed Masthan, private employee from Mittaganahalli: There is a horrible smell across the area, and even lakes are filled with leachate. There are seven layouts here. Many of us are farmers and our lands are badly affected. Our agricultural fields are suffering due to infestation and pollution. We depend on water tankers, spending Rs 700 a week. But this is not sustainable. Mixed waste, including animal waste, is another serious problem.
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