Here, BBMP 'dumps' rules in open space

Here, BBMP 'dumps' rules in open space
By Satish Shile, DH News Service, Bangalore:
As you move past Amrutha College of Engineering in Kasavanahalli on Sarjapura Road you will be welcomed by flies and obnoxious smell will lead you into III phase, Amrutha Nagara.

You may feel it difficult to spend even a minute there, but residents of the locality have been living there for the last one and half years!

Solid Waste Management contractors have been dumping garbage in an abandoned quarry spread over more than 10 acres of land. More than 50 loads of municipal waste is dumped in the quarry every day.

Mr Thomas, former president of Amrutha Nagara Residents Welfare Association, said, “all the time the residents remain inside to avoid inhaling the stinking smell”, he said.

Mr Francis, an electrical engineer and joint secretary of the association, said that the association has complained to all officers concerned.

Dumping in open space amounts to violation of Municipal Solid Waste (Maintenance and Handling) Rules 2000.
The rules say that it is the responsibility of municipal body to provide proper infrastructure, regulate storage, segregation, transportation, processing and disposal of municipal solid waste.

However in reality, the Palike itself is encouraging dumping of wastes in open space. As per the rules local bodies have to take prior permission from KSPCB before identifying a place for dumping municipal waste. According to sources in the Board the Palike has been given permission to dump wastes only at Karnataka Compost Development Corporation unit in Kudlu village, Mavallipura landfill and Terra Firma, a composting unit.

The rules say that the dumping yard must be fenced properly, garbage should not be exposed to the climate and chemicals necessary to avoid spread of diseases should be sprayed regularly.

However the Palike has not followed any of these norms at Amrutha Nagara. Improper disposal of municipal waste by a municipal body attracts strict legal actions.

Under section 15 of the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986 the guilty may sentenced to imprisonment up to five years and a penalty of Rs One lakh or both.