The problem of disposing of garbage is likely to get worse as the major landfills in the city are being forcibly shut down by residents of surrounding villages who are questioning why they have to put up with the stink and unhealthy conditions in their backyard. If garbage continues to pile up in Bengaluru, it will be the turn of its citizens to complain about the stench, mosquitoes and flies.
The city generates at least 5,000 metric tonnes of garbage a day. Barely 1,000 metric tonnes of waste has been shifted out of the city to the landfills on the outskirts of the city. According to one contractor, garbage has not been cleared in the city since Saturday. The BBMP seems not to be bothered since it has come up with no alternative. The situation has got out of hand after the closure of the Mavallipura dumping yard. Farmers are also blocking the shifting of garbage to Terra Firma on the Doddaballapur road. Taking a cue from the Mavallipura villagers, the farmers have besieged garbage trucks and beaten up the truck drivers. Farmers at Mandur have also driven garbage trucks out of Mandur.
The garbage-laden trucks are stranded in the city, said a contractor. The unlifted garbage will be sprayed with bleaching power and covered with tarpaulin. But this cannot go on for very long. If the situation is not solved by the BBMP, the city will go to the dogs, said the contractor not mincing his words. Business interests are said to be behind the protests by villagers. The GMR group owns a big chunk of land adjacent to the landfill. Fearing a fall in land prices if the landfill is operational, the GMR group has instigated the villagers, sources allege. KSPCB chairman A. Sadashivaiah inspected the Mandur landfill recently and directed the BBMP to process the waste scientifically. He noticed irregularities in processing the waste and warned the BBMP it would get a notice if the villagers are harassed because of unhygienic conditions.
BBMP commissioner M. K. Shankaralinge Gowda said that alternative land will be identified on the outskirts of the city for a landfill, but refused to give specifics.