Bengaluru: Despite various efforts taken by BBMP to deal with the vexing issue of garbage burning, it continues to be a menace at various parts of the city.
Part of the blame also lies with city residents, who burn scrap quite unmindful of the consequences.
Gurappana Palya near Bannerghatta is infamous for scrap burning and passersby feel choked due to the acrid smoke, but the issue has been neglected for long.
Here copper wires, e-waste and other leftovers are burnt and the resulting waste makes its way to the storm water drain (SWD).
Farhat Ali Khan, a business executive, remarked that neither the BBMP nor the citizens care about this issue.
“Even the BBMP does not have an effective mechanism to collect the garbage. The area has turned into a black spot. Already, the SWDs across the city are sewage fed and end up in water bodies,” Khan said.
A SWD is meant to carry rain and treated water, so that clean water can enter the lakes.
However, the BBMP which is on a cleaning spree and imposed fines on several apartments, but residents allege the local corporator has failed them.
“Even though the BBMP carries the garbage, things are back to square one the next moment. Now at a time when RWA’s have accomplished a success rate of more than 70%, the concentration should be in these areas,” said Saket, a resident.
He further pointed out that Bengaluru slipping to 210 position in Swachch Bharat rankings will affect tourism, and dent its image of ‘garden city’.
Vikasa Murthy, a daily commuter, said, “A lot of people are not aware that burning of e-waste has far greater consequences than the burning of dry leaves.
The area is notorious for burning of scrap materials. The footpath is already encroached.”
