BENGALURU: After the BBMP officials cancelled meeting with those affected by Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) plant at HSR Layout, over 100 residents came out to protest on Monday evening. They alleged apathy and fake assurances from the authorities over its closure. The plant continues to be mismanaged and the obnoxious smell has been a persistent nuisance for the locality residents.
Protestors warned of launching a hunger strike if their demands are not met soon.
“I stay one and half kilometre away from the plant and am hence forced to bear the odour everyday. We wanted the plant to offer an example for solid waste management but it is involved in all kinds of violations. Both dry and wet waste are brought to the plant but they are not using the bio-methane plant for wet waste,” said Kavitha Reddy, member of the Kudlu, Hosaplaya, Harlur, Somasundaraplaya and Parangipalya (KHHSP) resident welfare association.
She added the plant is spending `7 lakh per month for electricity alone.
“From BBMP Mayor to chief of pollution board, we have approached all possible officials to get the plant out of the locality. The lake expert committee members have also been giving us only false assurances,” she said.
Though the plant workers spray lemon grass water to suppress the smell, residents say it is of little help.
Rajesh Kumar, a resident pointed out, “Since the contractor gets money in terms of the tonnes of garbage they bring, they collect both wet and dry waste.
They bring here 120 to 250 tonnes of waste here as against ideal 70-75 tonnes, which aggravates the smell problem. The bio-filter, which was installed using large amount of money, is also not being put into use.”
He also alleged encroachments on some portions of the Somasundraplaya lake by the plant.
Sukanya, who resides a kilometre away from the plant, said, “The plant was closed in 2008 during BJP’s rule, but again got reopened during Congress regime in 2012.
This particular land was supposed to be a bus terminal and a road was to lead to 24th Main. None of the proposal took off and today we are compelled to bear this stink 24x7.”