‘How about council meeting at landfill?’

At the BBMP council’s meeting held to discuss the garbage problem, Palike commissioner Rajneesh Goel said he would arrange the next council meeting at Mandur landfill as only then the corporators can understand the plight of the villagers living near the dumpyard.

He reminded the council that it is only till the end of this month that the city’s garbage can be dumped at the landfill and finding a quick solution was the need of the hour. This, he said, is a big challenge and asked the corporators for a solution.

“What will we do then (after October 1)? How to answer the public? That is why the tenders were floated,” he said, referring to the criticism that came his way for inviting tenders for garbage management. He became emotional while speaking about the issue as the corporators had accused him of calling the tenders without telling about it to the council or standing committee.
Goel said the tender package was the same as it was past year, adding that the corporators had not objected to it then but were arguing about it now. Questioning the rationale behind it, he said he would place the subject in the council on September 29 and leave it to the council to approve or disapprove. Stating that the council is supreme, he said he is just a soldier who acts according to the council’s directive.

The commissioner’s tirade against corporators on Saturday irked many of them. Nandini Layout corporator M Nagaraj said Goel should not blame the corporators, adding that the officials’ negligence was to be blamed for it. He said no BBMP commissioner had spoken in the council or challenged the council the way Goel did and added: “You don’t deserve to be an IAS officer.”

The comment was removed from the council’s records as per the directive of mayor D Venkatesh Murthy. The tense situation was brought under control when other corporators intervened. Sunkenahalli corporator PN Sadashiva told Nagaraj that Goel had not challenged the council but was only trying to find a solution to the garbage woes.

The second day of the special meeting began with the corporators alleging that some BBMP officials were hand-in-glove with garbage contractors and they were creating problems in adopting modern technology, which can address the issue. JD(S) corporator Padmanabha Reddy alleged that the BBMP had invited tenders by buckling under the pressure of Andhra Pradesh-based garbage contractors. He asked how the Palike could invite tender when it is the mayor who comes first in the hierarchy, followed by the council.