BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has given conditional approval to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for setting up of a municipal solid waste (MSW) plant at Lingadheeranhalli, Banashankari 6th Stage.
Speaking to Express, Senior Environment Officer-Waste Management (SEO) of the Pollution Control Board, Venkatesh Shekar, said, “The BBMP has to strictly adhere to 19 terms and conditions for setting up this unit. Issues like bringing only composting material to the site, setting up a concrete platform and a closed shed, etc., will have to be met. Vehicles fitted with GPS which are used for transportation of waste will have to be registered with the Board. Otherwise, the permission can be withdrawn.”
On September 2, the regional officer of the KSPCB had recommended that the Lingadheeranhalli site was unsuitable for establishment of a MSW processing plant. However, following a Karnataka High Court directive that each ward should have its own processing plant, the BBMP went ahead with the project.
The environment officer added, “The technical committee has taken a call to clear this project even though a junior officer did not recommend it. We can’t stop the BBMP if they go ahead without our approval. However, we have not given approval for the landfill area of 22,122 square metre as it is surrounded by residential plots. The Mavallipura situation will not happen here as it will neither have a landfill nor an open processing unit.”
The other conditions imposed on BBMP: only waste that has to be processed can be brought to the Lingadheeranhalli site and any nuisance arising during transportation, or any ensuing bird or dog nuisance will not be tolerated. “The BBMP, in fact, has given an undertaking to the KSPCB on complying with all these conditions,” the officer added.
Meanwhile, a resident of Banashankari 6th Stage has filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal stating that the MSW project is illegal and is being constructed without mandatory permissions and approvals. Therefore, the construction works should be stopped, he contended.
The petition further states that no prior clearance under the EIA Notification 2006 has been obtained by the BBMP and no consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 has been obtained.
The matter, which came up for hearing on October 10, has been posted to October 29 with BBMP requesting for more time.