Waste collection hit as villagers halt dumping

BENGALURU: A garbage crisis is looming over Bengaluru as mixed waste collection has been disrupted since Saturday, following a protest by residents of villages surrounding Bellahalli landfill, near Bagaluru, on the northern outskirts of the city.

According to BBMP officials, garbage-laden compactors were stopped and not allowed to dump trash at the landfill on Saturday. No compactor was allowed to enter the landfill on Monday either. With compactors unable to dump the garbage they had collected, the picking of mixed waste has been stopped since Sunday across the city.

Mixed waste is collected mostly from commercial establishments. Bellahalli landfill is the only one receiving mixed waste. Between 300 and 350 compactors ferry mixed waste to the landfill daily, with each compactor carrying 10 tonnes of trash.

On Monday, garbage was seen piling up on KR Market, Church Street and several other areas across Bengaluru. BBMP officials explained that south Bengaluru has been hit worst.

Officials from Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) confirmed the development and said discussions are on with villagers to allow compactors to unload the garbage.

"Bellahalli landfill, spread over 30 acres, was almost filled up and BSWML wanted to increase the height. But the villagers didn't allow BSWML to carry out the work and from Saturday, they've stopped BBMP compactors from entering the landfill," an officer said.

He added that BSWML has an alternative landfill at Byappanahalli, about 3km from Bellahalli. However, the land belongs to Bengaluru Urban district administration and BSWML has requested the district to hand over the land. "We've explained the situation to the district administration and now, they have agreed to hand over ownership of the land at Byappanahalli to us," said the officer.

However, shifting the landfill to Byappanahalli is also not an easy job. Officials said BSWML used the Byappanahalli landfill temporarily during the air show in 2023. "Now, Byappanahalli villagers are saying it was a temporary landfill and have threatened not to allow garbage now," said an officer.

Officials from BBMP and BSWML said the govt is proposing to acquire lands on the outskirts of the city to create permanent landfills for the next 30 years. The govt should speed up this process to avoid garbage issues, they added.


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