Bengaluru citizens turn Outer Ring Road into dumping ground

Some badly affected stretches include Kottigepalya, Laggere, Lakshidevinagar and HMT wards.
A part of the 2 km Outer Ring Road (ORR)  Gourav PratapMishra
A part of the 2 km Outer Ring Road (ORR)  Gourav PratapMishra

BENGALURU: Dumping of garbage on both sides of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) by citizens seems to have become a regular affair. People have also found new spots on ORR to dump plastic and solid waste every day. Some commuters who pass by also carry garbage bags in their bikes and cars to throw them on roadsides. A contractor who is in charge of picking up and recycling this waste says it has become difficult to manage the garbage.  

Some badly affected stretches include Kottigepalya, Laggere, Lakshidevinagar and HMT wards. A big heap of garbage can be found on both sides of the road through the day. The population of residents in these areas is over a lakh.

Kottigepalya corporator Mohan Kumar said, “Four wards 38, 42, 69 and 73 fall under this stretch where garbage is being disposed by people.  Waste is picked and disposed from my ward every day but we find the same amount of waste dumped the next morning again."

Bulk of solid waste bags, plastic, fruit and vegetable waste, synthetic waste and a lot more can be seen rotting, dumped on over 1.2 km stretch of the road. When City Express visited the spot, street vendors and workers at meat shops were found disposing the waste on the stretch near Kottigepalya. Commuters passing by were also seen carrying waste bags in their bikes and cars and dumping them on the roadside.

One of the contractors of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in-charge of pickup and recycle of the waste, said, “Managing waste on the road here has become a tough task. Everyone assumes that these spots are for dumping waste. The vendors on Service Road and the meat shop owners also dump all the solid waste here.” 

He added, "BBMP picks the waste on time. However, the next morning, same amount of waste is found on this stretch. The BBMP should appoint supervisors to keep a check." Another source of BBMP also suggested that cemented dustbins be placed on ORR along with sign boards about fines that will be levied. 

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