NGT-State Level Committee (SLC) chairman Subhash B Adi has raised an alert after the BBMP failed to monitor an empanelled bulk waste collector and finding potentially harmful waste dumped in the open at Gunjur and Dommasandra near Hoskote in clear violation of rules.
The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) SLC visited the areas following complaints and found glaring irregularities. According to the complaint, unauthorised persons were picking up waste from bulk waste generators to extract usable/valuables but the remainder was not disposed safely.
“The waste is stated to have been brought from various hospitals and multinational companies...It was found that waste from hospitals, IT companies and apartments was being dumped...all dump sites clearly violate rules,” Justice Adi wrote in a letter to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
The NGT-SLC issued a set of directions to the BBMP, urging it to issue a public notice addressed to all IT companies, hospitals, hotels and apartments to refrain from handing over solid waste to unauthorised persons or agencies and book criminal cases against such operators.
“Penalty be imposed on all BWGs disposing waste to these unregistered/unauthorised private operators..,” the letter said.
Justice Adi also directed the Palike to immediately set up a digitised smart control room to monitor solid waste management and close illegal dump sites immediately.
Responding to the letter, Sarfaraz Khan, Joint Commissioner, SWM, BBMP said, “We have received the complaint from many villagers and it has also been conveyed to the NGT-appointed chairman for SWM Justice Subhash B Adi. We will conduct raids in Anekal taluk and south-east Bengaluru where illegal dumping is taking place. Cases will be filed against land owners who have allowed contractors to dump waste on the lands,” he said.
Khan said the land owners have hired contractors to dump waste generated by IT companies, hospitals and apartments. “We are still identifying the companies and hospitals involved and they will be fined soon. We will also initiate action against landowners,” he said.