Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Sunday said the State government would set up a Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMA) to deal with garbage crisis in the city.
Speaking after inaugurating the week-long exposition, ‘Wake Up, Clean Up Bangalore’ at Freedom Park, he said, “MP Ananthakumar has suggested to set up such an authority to tackle the garbage crisis. It will help in bringing down the procedural and bureaucratic delays,” he said adding that the lack of planning led to the crisis.
“We have to spread the message ‘don’t dump waste in my backyard’ and change people’s attitude,” he said.
Earlier, Ananthakumar asked the Chief Minister to include the formation of the authority in the budget.
Pollution Control Board Chairman Dr Vaman Acharya said, “The companies, which see waste management as a business, are only interested in profits. After making some presentations, they look for financing, technology and subsidies. We need genuine companies which will help the civic administration solve the problem. But for that, we must consider increasing the tipping and processing fee to at least Rs 2 per kg,” he said.
He asked the BBMP to identify 10 acre lands at seven locations where processing units having a capacity of 700 tonnes of waste could be set up.
Finding solutions to garbage crisis
BBMP, which is finding it hard to deal with the garbage, crisis is now looking for assistance from NGOs and private companies. They can come forward with solutions to deal with the crisis. The ‘Wake-Up and Clean Up Bangalore’ is one such initiative.
Fifty companies are demonstrating different technologies from composting to making materials, from waste to generating fuel and using plastic in roads.
T Raghavendra Rao, who is showcasing ‘advance fermentation methanisers system’ said, “The biggest challenge is the segregation of kitchen waste and by using advance fermentation methanisers system, 40 per cent of biowaste can be converted into energy. The machine can be fixed in houses. One kg of kitchen waste can produce half a kg of biogas,” he stated.
Rasool Khan, who is using plastic in roads for filling potholes, said “We buy plastic waste at `6 per kg from apartments, schools and companies. We also have our own auto and lorry that pick up plastic waste strewn around the city,” he said.
BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah said Khan has asked the civic body to allot two acres of land to collect 45 tonnes of plastic a day.