Despite several protests by the residents of HSR Layout, the government has remained indifferent to their demand to shift the wet waste processing unit of the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC).
The rotting smell from the processing unit has made life difficult for the residents of Kudlu, Haralukunte, Hosapalya, Somasundarapalya and Parangipalya. They complain of health issues, including respiratory ailments.
Before the elections, the BBMP cleaned up the Somasandra Lake outside the KCDC premises, but residents said such haphazard efforts are unlikely to address the main issue.
"They are pumping out water from the lake and think that will solve the problem. But, the KCDC is also dumping leachate into the lake on a daily basis, which would keep the lake polluted," said Raghunath, a resident of Hosapalya.
Another resident, Manu Ram, said KCDC managers are dumping twice the allowed limit of 70 tonnes of wet waste. "They are unable to process the waste that had piled up for weeks and months. The odour comes from the piled up waste, which gets worse in the monsoon," Ram said.
Guests stay away
Srinivasan from Somasandrapalya said the stench has almost kept guests away as residents have to think twice before inviting anyone. "The bio filters aren't working since they should be operated in closed areas. Around 8,000 metric tonne of highly combustible Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) is stored here. RDF releases methane gas, which is highly poisonous and causes health diseases like bronchitis."
Kamesh Rastogi, member of the residents' association, said: "The KCDC is violating our right to life by depriving us of clean air and water. We will be filing a PIL in the high court in a week's time, seeking directions to relocate the processing unit."
However, BBMP joint commissioner for health and solid waste management Sarfaraz Khan said moving out the plant would not be feasible. He said the civic body is working with the residents on finding ways to curtail the smell.
"Two years ago, we installed bio filters that cost Rs 2 crore to eradicate the smell. Now, we need to cut down the daily wet waste intake and work towards reviving the lake," Khan said.