BBMP push to increase waste processing

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: After suffering a huge embarrassment at the cleanliness survey constituted by the Central government, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is taking up various measures to improve its scores. The Palike has opened its seventh waste treatment plant at Subbarayappa's village, which has been lying in disuse for the past eight years.

BBMP has started sending 10 compactors daily to the plant. Most of the garbage collected by BBMP is transported to landfill sites. There are seven waste treatment plants in Bengaluru, and out of these Chikkanagamangala, Doddabidarakallu, Kanahalli, KCDC, Lingadheeranahalli and MSJP units are functioning.

However, only about 1,500 tonnes of garbage can be processed per day. Residents living around these units have always complained about the stench and groundwater pollution and demanded permanent closure of the units. Residents' opposition has been the significant reason for the BBMP not being able to operate the seventh plant at Seegehalli.

All these processing plants were set up eight years ago, and no new plants were set up after that. In the Swachh Sarvekshan survey 2022 report released by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, out of 45 cities having a population of above 10 lakh, Silicon City was ranked 43rd. Compared with last year; the city’s ranking has fallen sharply by 15 places.

The city was only ahead of Chennai and Madurai. Lack of waste treatment plants was cited as one of the reasons behind the city’s fall in rankings. The cities were evaluated on three parameters with a total score of 7,500, out of which 3,000 marks were for service-level progress, 2,250 marks were for certification and 2,250 for citizens’ voice. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had scored 2,893.