Even as a garbage crisis looms large over the city, Yelahanka MLA S R Vishwanath from the BJP, on Monday, threatened to close the Mavallipura landfill if BBMP fails to process wet waste being dumped at the landfill and control the stench.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BBMP Council meeting, Vishwanath said that about 150 loads of garbage, also comprising wet waste, is entering the site every day. No steps are being taken to process the wet waste, thereby leading to the stench in and around the landfill, he said.
“The Palike officials are not paying attention to ensure effective functioning of the landfill. Also, the road leading to the dumping yard is just 20 feet wide. Widening of the lane should be undertaken immediately. We will stop allowing Palike garbage trucks from entering the dumpyard if no action is taken to process wet waste. I stay about four to five km away. Yet, I cannot sleep properly due to the strong smell from the landfill area,” the MLA said.
Responding to this, Mayor B N Manjunatha Reddy said that he would look into the issue at the earliest. Vishwanath, along with some councillors, also raised the issue of insufficient funds allotted for park and borewell maintenance. Govindarajanagar corporator Umesh Shetty stressed that more funds should be given to build houses for the OBC category and that there should be equal allocation of money to all the wards.
Shetty also brought up the issue of encroachments in the city, especially the Sankey Tank case. He said, “Due to improper functioning of BBMP legal cell, the builders have encroached the Sankey Tank. This BBMP property has been encroached by Mantri Developers. Similarly, no action has been taken against those who put up illegal hoardings. For instance, near Madhavan Park, Jayanagar, a huge hoarding has been installed.”
Reddy instructed the officials concerned to look into the issue of illegal hoardings. Responding to complaints related to khata, he said that the civic agency would soon start khata melas in the wards.