Garbage Disposal Plagues Residents of Bangalore

Garbage has heaped up on the outskirts of the Yelahanka city, in the village of Mavallipura. 700 tons of garbage collected from across Bangalore is dumped here per day. This garbage dump yard is managed by Ramky Environmental Engineers. This Hyderabad-based firm uses 30-35% of the garbage to produce fertilizer, while the rest of it disposed off for land fill. Local residents had complained about this dumping zone that besides posing environmental hazards it had been affecting their health. Residents of Mavallipura complained of skin ailments, fever and gastro-intestinal disorders. Those who were affected by the land fill have received medical help from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). An inter-disciplinary medical team comprising of nephrologists, gynecologists, physicians, skin specialists and other doctors from leading hospitals will conduct medical camps in the affected village over the next 6-months in order to help the victims and also look for the causative factor.

Stray dog menace has increased in the area. Mosquitoes and flies compel the residents to use mosquito nets even in the day-time. Lakes, wells and ponds are rendered toxic. The number of scavenging birds was a threat to the defense aircraft movements flying from the Yelahanka Air Force base, which is just 5-km away from Mavallipura.

Commissioner of the BBMP, Siddaiah assured the residents that he would address the health and environmental hazards due to the BBMP's garbage dump yard. While assuring the villagers he said, "Pesticides would be sprayed in the villages to control the mosquito and fly menace. For the next three days quality of water in lakes, wells and bore-wells will be tested. I would convey the problems of loss of crop due to the garbage dumping yard to the government." He assured villagers that he would make a sincere effort to supply the water of Cauvery water in the village.

The Environment Support Group (ESG) believes that privatization of garbage disposal is the root cause of this problem. ESG will work in conjunction with BBMP to solve this problem.


Source-Medindia