<p>Dry leaves and garbage being burnt surreptitiously at a stormwater drain in Varthur Kodi for more than a month now have filled the area with smog, residents say. </p>.<p>Residents of the Southeast Bengaluru neighbourhood say the fire is lit between evening and late night, resulting in a smog-like situation that lasts from midnight to early morning.</p>.<p>As if this wasn't enough bad enough, ash swept away by the wind is getting into homes, choking residents, they say. </p>.<p>Residents also say their multiple complaints to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) received no response. </p>.<p>In support of their allegation, residents showed pictures of the burning activity that happened as recent as on Thursday evening. </p>.<p>Lakshmikala, who lives in an apartment nearby, said the burning of garbage would get intense during the evening hours. </p>.<p>"It's so intense that the blazing flames and smog last several hours," she said. "It's taking a heavy toll on our health, especially during these times of the coronavirus pandemic." </p>.<p>Srinivasulu K, Member Secretary, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, says they received only one complaint about the matter recently and it was "immediately attended to". </p>.<p>He dismissed residents' claim of dry leaves and garbage being burnt for the past month as "far from the truth". </p>.<p>R Venkatachalapathi, Joint Commissioner, Mahadevapura, BBMP, didn't respond to phone calls and messages from this newspaper seeking comment. </p>
<p>Dry leaves and garbage being burnt surreptitiously at a stormwater drain in Varthur Kodi for more than a month now have filled the area with smog, residents say. </p>.<p>Residents of the Southeast Bengaluru neighbourhood say the fire is lit between evening and late night, resulting in a smog-like situation that lasts from midnight to early morning.</p>.<p>As if this wasn't enough bad enough, ash swept away by the wind is getting into homes, choking residents, they say. </p>.<p>Residents also say their multiple complaints to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) received no response. </p>.<p>In support of their allegation, residents showed pictures of the burning activity that happened as recent as on Thursday evening. </p>.<p>Lakshmikala, who lives in an apartment nearby, said the burning of garbage would get intense during the evening hours. </p>.<p>"It's so intense that the blazing flames and smog last several hours," she said. "It's taking a heavy toll on our health, especially during these times of the coronavirus pandemic." </p>.<p>Srinivasulu K, Member Secretary, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, says they received only one complaint about the matter recently and it was "immediately attended to". </p>.<p>He dismissed residents' claim of dry leaves and garbage being burnt for the past month as "far from the truth". </p>.<p>R Venkatachalapathi, Joint Commissioner, Mahadevapura, BBMP, didn't respond to phone calls and messages from this newspaper seeking comment. </p>
