Garbage issue plagues Padmanabhanagar; residents demand immediate action

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Residents of Padmanabhanagar near Brindavan Layout are grappling with a severe garbage crisis, with overflowing bins and unattended waste creating an eyesore and posing health risks.

Despite repeated complaints to the authorities, the situation remains dire, causing frustration and concern among the local community. The problem has been increasing at a fast pace for a couple of months, with residents reporting that garbage collection has become sporadic and inefficient.

"We are living in a state of constant fear and discomfort," says Nisha Rao, a long-time resident.

"The garbage bins are always overflowing, and the stench is unbearable. It is affecting our daily lives and our health."

Local businesses are also feeling the impact, Arun Kumar who runs a small grocery store in the area, shared his struggles that "Customers are avoiding my shop because of the foul smell and the swarms of flies around. This garbage issue is killing my business. We need a solution, and we need it fast" told the shopkeeper. In addition to the foul odour and unsightly loads of trash, the residents are worried about potential health hazards.

"With the monsoon season upon us, stagnant water in the garbage piles is breeding mosquitoes, raising concerns about dengue and other vector-borne diseases," explains Doctor Priya Shankar, a local physician.

"This situation needs urgent attention from the health department and civic authorities" said Despite numerous complaints and meetings with local officials, the response has been inadequate.

"We have filed several complaints and even held a protest, but nothing has changed," says Ramesh Gupta, a community leader. "The authorities assure us that the problem will be resolved soon, but there has been no visible improvement. We feel neglected and ignored."

BBMP officials have acknowledged the issue but cite logistical challenges as the main hurdles. However, the recent increase in population and the lack of adequate waste management infrastructure have compounded the issue. We are in the process of deploying additional resources and improving our waste collection schedules."

In the meantime, residents are taking matters into their own hands. Volunteers have organized community clean-up drives, but these efforts are not enough to tackle the scale of the problem.

"We can only do so much," says Anjali Menon, a volunteer. "Without sustained support from the authorities, our efforts are just a temporary fix."