Date:08/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/08/stories/2006060820460300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BMP's landfill getting ready

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: With the land designated as a landfill following Supreme Court orders just getting ready for scientific disposal of solid waste, large-scale composting of urban waste has become a necessity for Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP).

Till now, only 300 to 400 tonnes of garbage was sent to the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation. About 30 per cent of the waste can be converted into usable compost. The rest is dumped haphazardly.

The BMP had identified 100 acres of land near Mavallipura where about 600 tonnes of waste can be composted each day. Another 105 acres selected near Mandur will turn 1,000 tonnes of garbage each day into bio energy. The areas are just outside the city and while the Mavallipura location is ready for use now, the second may not be usable for another year, according to some civic officials.

The KCDC currently operates from 21 acres of land near Madiwala. It is not possible to get any more contiguous land in the area.

KCDC officials would like the BMP to invest in an alternative site while they are ready to support it. The other agencies could help the civic body with its plans to generate bio energy.

On its part, the BMP tightened its garbage clearance functioning in recent months. It is no longer willing to be at the mercy of contractors.