Bengaluru: Following a call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BBMP and a few residents will launch the ‘Swachha Bengaluru Shwachha Bharat’ campaign across Bengaluru on a large scale from October 2 to keep the garden city neat and tidy. But the initiative got a mixed response from the social activists and urban experts. Some feel that the local methods like segregation, banning plastic and bottled water and setting goals are more the need of the hour than giving a fancy name to a random campaign. A sustainable campaign is called for, feel experts.
As for ‘Swachha Bharat’, while the centre can set a vision and put in some funding, ultimately this initiative will be strong only if local governments embrace it. For the moment, the biggest obstacle to a clean Bengaluru has been the dubious system for waste management put in place by the local council and administration. Citizens are quite happy to work for a clean India, it's getting the representatives on board that is proving to be a challenge, with only a few exceptions, said Ashwin Mahesh, an urban expert.
“Instead, let’s set goals in terms of results and don’t release funds if the desired goal is not achieved. We should get to a stage where a clean India (not only physically clean but politically clean too) should be a minimum threshold for all, and not something to hope for in the future,” he added. No one as yet has been appointed to achieve the desired results.
The concept of ‘Swachha Bengaluru’ is not new to Bengaluru. It was started way back in 2000 by BATF. BBMP too came up with a “zero garbage” initiative but it fell flat due to lack of awareness, said V. Ravichandar, chairman, feedback consulting. “Ideas keep flowing in freely but implementation is the key. The two main elements are the behaviour of citizens who must be more responsible and the authorities who must be more pro-active to enforce and achieve results. We need a sustainable initiative and a structure to take it forward”, he felt.
Meenakshi Bharat from Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF) said had the BBMP taken the inputs for the last four years like segregating at source, composting the wet waste and recycling the dry waste, Mr. Modi would have seen a clean Bengaluru. The day is not far when Mr. Modi bans bottled water, plastic bags, and use-and-throw plastic materials. Various NGOs have actually shown the way, but the BBMP is not willing to take up plants with minimum money, she opined.
E-toilets for BBMP schools
l Contributing to the ‘Swachcha Bharat abhiyan’ in a meaningful way, MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that 100 electronic toilets will be installed in 50 high-priority BBMP schools with immediate sanitation needs; this initiative will especially benefit girl students and nearly 20,000 students studying in these schools. MPLAD funds will be utilized for the initiative. Four electronic toilets in BBMP schools located in Ulsoor and Shivajinagar will be initiated shortly on a pilot project basis.
Taking it forward
The BBMP along with The Forward Foundation will flag off the ‘Swachcha Bengaluru Swachcha Bharat’ campaign on October 2 at Maruti Mandir ward. It will be flagged off by Mayor Shantakumari. The initiative will also be launched at Yediyur ward. Besides, residents of Green Glen Layout, at Bellandur are extending their support in cleaning their premises along with the BBMP.The BBMP has agreed to help in cleaning the Green Glen Layout area by clearing mud and debris outside Mayflower with tractors and earth movers.
