The landfill at Bellahalli will not be closed for another six months as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike officials are yet to find an alternative site to dump the waste.
In November, Deputy Chief Minister and Bangalore Development Minister Dr G Parameshwara had said that the site would be closed in 90 days.
However, the civic body has decided to use the landfill for six more months. Sarfaraz Khan, joint commissioner, health and solid waste management, BBMP, said: “We have set aside a portion of the landfill for an emergency situation. We now plan to utilise this.”
He said every day, close to 2,000 tonnes of garbage is dumped at this landfill. Shutting this in three months would result in a crisis-like
situation.
“It is extremely difficult to manage if we do not dump the garbage at the Bellahalli landfill even for a day,” he said.
The civic body is yet to finalise on the alternative space for the landfill. Marenahalli, Ullahalli and Bagalur are some of the suggested areas that are in consideration to dispose of solid waste.
However, the official expressed concern about the impending resistance and protests from the locals once the place is finalised.
“We are aware that the local residents near the place will resist. We plan to deploy modernised machinery in these sites so that the people in these areas do not face stench, pollution, and so on,” said Khan.
Once the Bellahalli landfill is shut, the civic body also plans to convert it into a motor racing track for biking enthusiasts in the city.