The blocking of a truck allegedly carrying waste from a chemical factory in Andhra Pradesh to the Mandur landfill, has triggered a fresh garbage crisis in parts of the city.
Villagers have been preventing even BBMP trucks from unloading waste at the landfill since Monday night. As a result garbage has been piling up in parts of the city, including Attiguppe, Chamrajpet, Basavanagudi and Millers Road.
Sources from Srinivas Gayathri Resource Recovery that is managing the landfill said the truck had chemicals used for making beverages. “The chemicals are brought from Andhra Pradesh thrice a week and are used for compressing garbage at the landfill,” they said.
Avlahalli sub-inspector Sridhar told Express, “During interrogation, the driver told us that the truck was carrying industrial waste from an area near Hyderbad. We have sent samples to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and to Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.”
S N Balasubramanya, general secretary to the Garbage Contractors’ Association said that around 300 garbage trucks carrying waste from the city were not allowed to enter Mandur on Monday night. “As one vehicle had come from outside, villagers blocked even regular garbage trucks. The trucks had to return to the city with garbage,” he said. Some villagers even damaged a few trucks, he alleged. Dumping is expected to resume by Tuesday night.
Sridhar told Express that two cases, one based on a complaint from Mandur residents and another on from BBMP officials has been booked.