Bengaluru: For the past six months, garbage burning near Mahadevapura lake has not only created multiple problems for the nearby residents but has even posed serious environmental hazards. What is baffling is that even after the issue was brought to the notice of the BBMP, the authorities keep claimiing that it has been solved.
It has been six months after the issue of garbage burning near Mahadevapura lake was brought to notice of BBMP, but no action has been taken against the violators.
The residents claim the garbage includes industrial plastic powder, rubber and other plastic materials. On Sunday, it was noticed that garbage was being burnt outside the fencing of the lake.
However, the BBMP lakes division officials maintain that garbage does not enter the lake bed as home guards have been deployed to look after it and the boundary has been fenced.
On the Twitter handle of Mahadevapura lake, it was alleged that despite frequent complaints made through BBMP Sahaya app, nothing concrete happened. The app always shows the issue as 'resolved'. Lake activist Swarit Agarwal said the complaints should be centralized and someone must take responsibility.
"It is a long pending issue and if home guards are deployed to look after the lake, then it is easy to catch the culprits. All we want is the end to the menace of garbage burning which has not been addressed by the BBMP official," Agarwal added. A member of Mahadevapura Lake Group, Mihir has been tirelessly campaigning against the unauthorised garbage burning at a vacant land near the lake.
"There has been no response from the BBMP. The absence of CCTV cameras at the spot makes the it more vulnerable. The fumes emanating from the burning of industrial waste is a serious health concern for joggers and the nearby residents," he added.
The citizen activists expect the BBMP to at least serve notices to the industries that are suspected to be blatantly dumping the garbage near the lake. On January 10, Deccan Chronicle received a call from Mihir who said that the situation near the lake has worsened as a fresh pile of garbage was seen burning early morning.
Nishanth Kumar, a resident of Mahadevapura said, "The burning of garbage has been a pending issue. It makes it uncomfortable for the joggers to run near the lake."
No issue of garbage burning now: BBMP Health Inspector Raghvendra
Why the issue of garbage burning near Mahadevapura lake has not been resolved?
This is a fifteen-day-old issue, which has been properly addressed. There is no issue of garbage burning now. It is mostly the industrial waste.
Has any industry been served with a notice by the BBMP for dumping garbage?
No, we have not served any industry with the notice as we do not know which industry is violating the norms. Moreover, garbage was thrown during the evening.
The residents allege that there is no CCTV camera nearby so it is easy to illegally dump garbage. How is BBMP going to resolve the issue?
This should come from the corporator. As far as we are concerned, BBMP is working in tandem with the residents to resolve issues.
