The show of strength by residents forced S Venkatesh Babu to announce that henceforth garbage will not be dumped at the Mandur dumping yard.
Inspired by protests by the residents of Mavallipura against dumping garbage in their backyard, which forced BBMP to search for alternative dumping sites, hundreds of people from Mandur, Byappanahalli, Kammasandra, Gundur, Bommenahalli and Kadgollahalli gathered on Baiyappanahalli-Mandur Road on Monday to hold a dharna, asking BBMP authorities to stop dumping garbage at the landfill off Bangalore-Hoskote Road near Begur Cross.
The show of strength by residents forced S Venkatesh Babu, chairman, standing committee on health, BBMP, to announce that henceforth garbage will not be dumped at the Mandur dumping yard.
For a few years, residents of Mandur have been trying to apprise BBMP of the health hazards posed by the piles of garbage, but in vain. Though BBMP repeatedly assured that it will take measures to scientifically dispose garbage, no step has been taken so far. The civic authorities’ negligence made the residents to opt for agitation. A large number of policemen was deputed to prevent untoward incidents.
One philanthropist made arrangements to supply lemon rice and coffee to the agitating people. Not many agitators were ready to eat in the unhygienic atmosphere. Their joy knew no bounds when Babu announced that garbage will not be dumped at the Mandur dumping yard henceforth.
Babu said the agitators have submitted a memorandum to him highlighting the health problems they have been facing due to dumping of garbage near the village.
“I have visited the dumping site and found that most of their complaints are genuine. I have assured them that no garbage will be dumped near Mandur in future and arrangements will be made to transport the garbage piled up at the dumping yard to another place,’’ Babu said.
However, Babu refused to divulge the name of new dumping place. “I do not want to reveal where we are going to dump garbage now. I want to clear garbage from Bangalore as early as possible. I do not want villagers staying in the vicinity of the new garbage dump to protest,’’ he said.
Expressing happiness over the BBMP authorities’ assurance on clearing the garbage from Mandur dumping yard, Mahesh Gowda, a farmer, said he expects the civic body to honour its assurance. “I have not been able to cultivate land due to the garbage menace. It has become difficult for us to live in this village,’’ said Gowda.
He said groundwater table in the village had touched rock bottom and borewell water is not potable. “Most of the land around Mandur will become barren if the BBMP fails to stop dumping of garbage here,” he said.
BH Muniraju, member, Mandur Gram Panchayat, demanded the BBMP authorities to clear the garbage immediately. “I want BBMP authorities to visit this place and stay for two hours to know our problems. Many residents of Mandur have been suffering from fever. Three of them have been admitted to the Government Hospital at KR Puram and a few are admitted to the Government Hospital at Hoskote,’’ he said.
BBMP decided to resume dumping of garbage at the site in Mandur after the landfill at Mavallipura became inaccessible following protests by residents.
Health minister Aravind Limbavali too visited Mandur on Monday. Mandur comes under Mahadevapura assembly constituency which Limbavali represents.
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