BENGALURU: With the staying of operations of the BBMP’s most ambitious Municipal Solid Waste Management plant at Lingadheeranahalli, Banashankari VI Stage, by the National Green Tribunal, Southern Zone, the affected villages and several BSK 6th stage residents have heaved a sigh of relief.
Caught up in agitations, and litigation, the BBMP had quietly opened the plant during the municipal corporation elections.
Situated on 9.28 acres abounding Turahalli and BM Kaval state reserve forests, the Lingadheeranahalli landfill and waste plant is in the midst of a residential layout. Work started on this project last July amid police protection and the first phase was completed this August with the BBMP sending 250-300 tonnes of unsegregated waste for processing per day.
A visit to the plant reveals a stench, flying debris and the disappearance of birds from this verdant area that includes the rejuvenated lake of Sompura. With houses located just 100-300 metres from the waste plant, the residents of this BDA Layout perhaps never imagined that they would be living in the midst of a stinking landfill.
Residents of 5th Block said, “Dumping of waste stopped on August 28 though the NGT had granted interim stay on August 17 itself.”
A resident of a nearby village said, “We find no birds coming near the place. Further, there is widespread typhoid in nearby villages due the waste material transported from the southern parts of Bengaluru.”
It may be recalled that the residents’ welfare association, which had submitted a petition to the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the Chief Minister, had stated, “This land is located in the middle of 30,000 BDA residential and CA sites meant for parks, playgrounds, education institutes, government offices. The BBMP has not taken the residents into confidence and gone ahead with the landfill project. And, we have seen what BBMP has done to Mavallipura and Mandur. We don’t want this pristine BDA layout to be converted into a stinking landfill.”
Taking note of the concerns of the residents and the SEIAA report dated 19 June, 2015, the NGT said, “After completion of the Common Municipal Solid Waste Management, the BBMP has been granted environmental clearance which is against the EIA Notification of 2006. Further, the SEIAA report clearly shows there are ecologically important sites within 1.2km — a reserve forest and the National Park. Taking note of this, we are of the view that environmental clearance has been granted without considering all these relevant facts which is not permissible in law,” the Tribunal added.
BBMP solid waste management officials said efforts will be made to get the stay vacated. The NGT has posted the next hearing to September 15.