Payment delay hampers functioning of dry waste collection centres

Four dry waste collection centres (DWCC) in Mahadevapura zone are yet to receive payments from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for several months. The zone, which has 17 wards, has dry waste centres only in four wards and they are struggling to continue operations, say residents.

On Thursday, a group of residents, along with the DWCC workers, went to the zonal office to raise the issue as services were being hampered, and the centres are in danger of shutting down. The DWCC in Bellandur, for instance, was started a year ago and bills are submitted to the civic body every quarter.

But, the payment has never been made on time. “There is a lag of over five months in payment. To help the DWCC workers, we visited the BBMP office numerous times. Each time, we get assurances, but the money never comes,” said Seema Sharma, a resident of Bellandur.

Residents fear that the delay in payment will hamper the essential service provided by the DWCCs and may also disrupt the practice of segregation at source. “After much resistance, residents finally started segregating and handing over dry and wet waste separately. Now with collection being hampered due to non-payment, residents may also discontinue segregating at source,” she said, adding that if the issue is not sorted out soon, nearly two tonnes of low-value dry waste will end up on empty plots and lakes, and eventually be burnt.

Meenakshi M., a member of Hasiru Dala who has been helping the DWCC workers with paperwork, said that the organisation plans to meet the BBMP commissioner next week. “We can understand initial glitches, but how can the problem persist for a year. The budgetary allocation for solid waste management keeps going up, but where is the money going?” she said.

BBMP officials said that the issue is being sorted out. “The Accounts Department has said that funds have not been allocated for the DWCCs. This has been rectified and now the ward officials have to act on it,” the official said.

Dasarahalli remains the sole exception

Of the eight zones in the city, only DWCCs in Dasarahalli zone are receiving payments on time. “When the system can work well for one zone, why not for others,” asked Nalini Shekar from Hasiru Dala, an organisation that helps waste pickers.

It was a major step by the civic body when it recognised wastepickers and helped them turn into entrepreneurs, but that effort is half-hearted, she said.

Most DWCCs in Bommanahalli, East and South zones have not received payments for nearly six months. And workers, many of who have taken loans, are struggling to continue operations.

Mansoor, who works at the DWCC in ward 168 Pattabhiram Nagar, said. “The centre started a year ago. For the last four months, payments have not been made. We have taken loans to run the processing unit. If we don’t get money regularly, we won’t be able to continue.”

According to Krishna, a wastepicker working with the DWCC in Domlur says the work they do brings them no profit. “We incur huge expenses and with payments not made on time, it is a struggle to continue.”