BENGALURU: Amidst widespread public resentment against the garbage processing centre at Lingadheeranahalli in Banashankari 6th stage, cooperation minister ST Somashekar on Wednesday sought a status report from the Urban Development Department (UDD).
Holding a meeting with the government officials to resolve the burgeoning controversy surrounding the garbage plant and possible solutions, Somashekar directed Rakesh Singh, additional chief secretary, UDD and administrator of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to personally visit the plant and submit a detailed status report.
During the meeting, minister Somashekar told officials that he has received several complaints from the residents and many resident welfare associations (RWAs). “Residents have been demanding closure of the garbage processing plant currently operated and managed by the BBMP. In the backdrop of those complaints, I have directed the BBMP Administrator and UDD Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to visit the plant and submit a status report,” Somashekar, an MLA from Yeshwantpur said after the meeting.
Expressing his displeasure over the functioning of the plant, Somashekar reportedly told the officials, “There has been a considerable failure in ensuring the proper maintenance of the plant. Residents have brought to my notice the nauseating smell emanating from the plant all through the day and increased houseflies in the locality. Based on the complaints, when I initially held meetings with the residents and apartment associations and RWAs, all of them have unanimously demanded the closure of the plant.”
The minister also clarified that he would also visit the plant located in Ward 35-Hemmigepura along with the BBMP officials. “Let the officials also visit the plant and prepare a status report and I will also visit the plant. We will review the measures taken by the engineers to run the unit and the opinion of the local public. Let us try alternative methods if there are any to resolve the crisis. Otherwise, let officials submit a status report recommending closure of the unit to the state government and we will decide at the government level,” Somashekar said.
BBMP administrator and ACS Rakesh Singh said, “I will visit the plant along with engineers and other officials. We will try our best to resolve the problem. In case the residents and local RWAs wish to suggest anything in this regard, we will incorporate those points in the report and make a sincere effort to act accordingly.” Tushar Giri Nath, Chief Commissioner, BBMP said, “We will work in all possible ways to resolve the garbage crisis. In fact, we have been working towards setting up garbage units at every ward level.”
Citizen representatives and members of the RWAs who were present during the meeting demanded the closure of the unit citing health hazards and other issues.
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