Garbage collection has been affected and black spots have emerged in the City as locals continued their protest at the Terra Firma and MSGP waste-processing units in Doddaballapur taluk on Tuesday.
The worst hit are localities in the BBMP East, Dasarahalli and Mahadevapura zones. Rains that lashed the City on Monday and Tuesday, have aggravated the problem.
Preetham Mohan, a resident from HRBR Layout, said while garbage collection had always been irregular in his locality, the situation had worsened over the last two days. “Pourakarmikas did not turn up on Monday and Tuesday. The last time they came to collect garbage was on Sunday. We are disposing of waste at the Dry Waste Collection Centre,” he said.
Lakshmi Prabha from Hoodi Circle, Mahadevapura, said the residents of her apartment complex had tied up with a private garbage contractor to dispose of the waste. However, heaps of garbage, including garden waste, have remained uncleared in front of her apartment complex for the last three days.
“The private garbage contractor coordinates with the BBMP for disposal. The contractor said they were finding it difficult to dispose of the waste. We are clueless about clearing the garbage from our locality and the rains have made things worse,” she said.
Similar black spots are present in Nagawara Main Road, Banaswadi, Peenya, Kundalahalli, A Narayanapura and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, residents near the two waste-processing units continued their protests on Tuesday. Offering support were workers of the Aam Aadmi Party, CPM and Rajya Raitha Shakti. Despite the rains, the villagers sat in protest under tarpaulins.
Rajanna T V, a local resident, said: “Five months ago, the Palike had promised us that the number of garbage trucks entering the units would be reduced. They said about 20 trucks would enter MSGP and 40 would be sent to Terra Firma. It continues to remain an assurance till date. Presently, about 450-500 trucks enter both the units, which is exceeding their capacity.”
BBMP Chief Engineer Prasad, Joint Commissioner Prabhulinga and Doddaballapura taluk Tahsildar M K Ramesh visited the spot to talk to the protesters. To prevent any untoward incidents, about ten police vans have been deployed in and around the Doddamankalala, where the protest is on.