BBMP working overtime to reopen waste processing plants

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), after receiving a rap from the Karnataka High Court, is working overtime to make all the six processing plants operational again. Starting Monday, segregated wet waste is likely to be sent to the Kannahalli and Seegehalli processing plants, which were shut down following protests by local communities nearly six months ago.

The High Court had given the BBMP one month to ensure that all the waste processing plants are operational. BBMP’s Joint Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Sarfaraz Khan told The Hindu that the civic body had already started sending segregated wet waste to the plant in Chikkanagamangala three days ago.

“We are sending around 100 tonnes to the plant in Doddabidarakallu and around 40 tonnes to Lingadheeranahalli. We will increase the quantum of waste being sent to Lingadheeranahalli to 150 tonnes soon, apart from reopening the plant in Subbarayanapalya shortly,” he said.

Mr. Khan said that once all the plants are running at full capacity, the pressure on the quarry pits will come down. Currently, mixed waste from the city is being dumped in an abandoned quarry pit in Bellahalli. “It will take another two years at least for the quarry pit to be filled,” he said.

While the BBMP is looking to reopen the plants, local communities living around these plants are not happy. “The court has, in no uncertain terms, directed the BBMP to ensure that the processing happens scientifically, that there is no odour. How can the BBMP think of reopening the plants without consulting the local communities?” said Channappa, president, Kannahalli Seegehalli Kasa Vilevari Horata Samithi.

Segregation at source

Mr. Khan said that BBMP was also keen on improving the levels of segregation of waste at source. At present, around 45% of the total quantum of waste generated in the city is segregated at source. “We would like to increase it to around 65% at least. Towards this end, the BBMP will work with waste volunteers, ward committee members and aggressively start following this up until we achieve the target,” he said.