The issue of garbage segregation and disposal in the city has opened up a pandora’s box. With the High court making certain observations (see box), after a PIL filed by a concerned citizen, GR Mohan, on the need for segregation of waste at source, the BBMP seems to be floudering in formulating a strategy to address this issue.
On the other hand, the citizens are up in arms against these observations, while environmentalists feel that there is a need for creating more awareness among the public.
Till date, the BBMP seem to be clueless and directionless on the ways and means to tackle the issue of garbage disposal issue plaguing the city despite coming up with so many projects.
BBMP Mayor Venkatesh Murthy told City Express, “We will have a discussion soon to come out with the details of the project. However, as of now, no strategy has been finalised for tackling the issue.”
The court hearings have evoked both positive and mixed response from all sections of the society. Environmentalist Suresh Heblikar says , “I feel that though the court has reacted in good spirits, it is highly impractical for a civic agency like BBMP to implement it in reality. Who has the right to penalise? If all the houses are given separate bins, instructed and proper awareness is created, then the people can be slapped with a fine for failing to comply with the rule.”
He added further, “A section of population that resides in slums and lower middle class dwellings have no idea about segregation. They don’t even know what segregation means. The suggestion, though a good one, will require a whole lot of time to materialise into reality.”
On the other hand Sriram Kuchimanchi, who owns an environment consultancy firm feels that the court’s direction is the way to go about for safe disposal of garbage in the city. However, he feels that only passing a judgement is not enough, as this implies a series of other works for the civic agency.
“Individuals have no training or clue about the segregation of waste. They have to been shown the ways and means to do it in the initial stages and later things will flow on its own. I would suggest the BBMP trucks to have compartments divided in such a way that both dry and wet waste can be kept separately.”
However, he feels that levying a fine is too early a move. He adds, “Imposing a fine and stressing on segregation of waste is the most
Keys points of High Court observations on a Public Interest Petition regarding segregation of waste :
* The BBMP should impose a fine on those who do not segregate garbage into dry and wet waste.
* The BBMP should set up segregation units in each ward.
* The BBMP must submit a report on producing fuel out of garbage by September 21 .
* The BBMP should fill up the vacant posts of environmental engineers.
* The BBMP and the state government should take steps to appoint executive magistrates under the CrPC and Section 431 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act for imposing of fi nes on households that fail to segregate waste at source.