Bengaluru: Residents of Gundlahalli and those living around Terrafirma landfill registered a strong protest against the BBMP by blocking over 200 trucks on the Doddaballapur Highway for allegedly dumping “untreated” waste on Sunday.
Residents of Kamana Agrahara filed a police complaint with the Doddaballapur police on Sunday. Mr Teekesh, a resident, alleged, “Municipal solid waste and bio-waste from Biocon are being dumped indiscriminately and unscientifically at the Terrafirma landfill near Gundlahalli over the last few years.” He said that a tanker (KA 01-C8858) was carrying liquid waste from Biocon. It was being dumped at the Gundlahalli landfill, where a mountain of garbage is emanating an unbearable stench, he said.
The protests were called off after the intervention of city in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy and Bengaluru Rural in-charge minister Krishna Byregowda. But villagers complained that they are falling sick and their livestock is dying because of diseases. Mr Teekesh and others filed complaints against representatives of Biocon and Terrafirma and tanker driver Moulali.
Biocon clarifies
A spokesperson from Biocon, however, clarified that the trucks were carrying bio-waste of inert cell mass, which is nutrient rich, highly bio-degradable, non-toxic, non- hazardous and non-chemical waste. But it has a pungent smell. The company is sending the waste to Terra Firma for further treatment and disposal as per the KSPCB norms.
The company is also looking at developing a more advanced system of disposing of this inert cell mass, keeping in mind the smell associated with this. But till such time, the company has to use Terra Firma's services, he said.
Software for better coordination
BBMP Commissioner G. Kumar Naik said that the civic body has developed software to enable better communication between different government agencies. Addressing representatives of BDA, BWSSB, police department, KSPCB, Bescom and KPTCL on Monday, he said each agency should appoint a nodal officer who will be trained to coordinate with other agencies.
“A common platform has been set up for all the agencies to communicate. All the agencies should take BBMP’s permission before they take up development works. Through software has been developed by BBMP, the agencies have to share details of project, contractor, calendar of events, estimated cost and the responsibilities of other agencies. These details will be uploaded onto the BBMP website. Nodal officers should provide information,” he said.
He said before cutting any road, the agencies should follow the decisions of the Coordination Committee.
