Mittaganahalli landfill : 300 crore liters of Leachate collected

 Daily hell for the people of Mittaganahalli, Bellahalli, groundwater polluted 

Mittaganahalli landfill : 300 crore liters of Leachate collected

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Mittaganahalli landfill area has been filled with more than 300 crore liters of liquid waste (leachate) due to the waste that has been dumped for about nine years. This has increased health problems in the surrounding villages and has also poisoned the groundwater.

The mixed waste collected in all 198 wards of Bengaluru and the remaining waste in the processing units is being dumped in the Mittaganahalli landfill area through more than 500 compactors. 

Every day from 6 am to 6 pm, compactors line up and dump the waste. leachate continues to pour out from the compactors that stand in a row. Liquid waste is dumped along the one and a half km road from Bellahalli Cross to Mittaganahalli landfill. Although it is a dirt road, it has turned darker in color than the asphalt. 

All types of waste have been dumped in the landfill for more than nine years. After the waste is dumped, construction waste is placed on top of it, but the leachate is flowing into four nearby ditches. Although it appears to be garbage on the surface, the liquid waste is filled to a depth of more than 50 feet. 

The Bellahalli lake, which is located near the Mittaganahalli landfill, is filled with leachatee. People living nearby are afraid to even touch its water. Thousands of people live in many large apartments behind this lake. They have to endure the stench of garbage every day. Also, health problems are increasing. 

‘leachate is flowing in Kannur Lake, Chikkagubbi Lake, Doddagubbi Lake and Rampur Lake, including Bellahalli Lake. All these lakes used to provide drinking water to people and livestock. But now, the water here is untouchable,’ said Ramachandrappa, a resident of Bellahalli.

‘When the problem increases, we protest. Some officials come and patch things up. The same problem again. No one has been providing a permanent solution to the problem for four years,’ complained Nagaraju of Bande Hosur.

‘Waste has been being disposed of scientifically in the Mittaganahalli landfill area for many years. The State Pollution Control Board report says that liquid waste is not entering the lakes,’ BSWML officials responded.

Elderly people suffer more

‘Locals are suffering from various diseases due to drinking water from wells. Chest pain, including dental and lung problems, is also being seen. When patients go to the doctor, they say that the problem is caused by water. leachate is getting into the borewells, which is causing such problems. Many residents, including children from Mittaganahalli, Bellahalli, and Bande Hosur, are experiencing health problems. The elderly are in more trouble,' said Gram Panchayat member Byre Gowda.

It is enough to transport the leachate from here!

'Croons of liters of leachate should be transported from here first. This is what is causing us the most problems. The amount of liquid waste in the Mittaganahalli landfill area is increasing day by day. Along with the foul smell, liquid waste is getting into the surrounding lakes. leachate is also getting into the groundwater, increasing the problem of drinking water. The unscientific disposal should be stopped,' said Kannur Gram Panchayat President S. Ashok.

Non-functioning leachate treatment plant

BBMP has set up a leachate treatment plant at the Mittaganahalli landfill as per the plan. However, this unit has been idle for many years and is like a dilapidated building. All the pipes installed around it have been torn down.

Lakhs of litres of leachate are produced in this landfill every day. A leachate treatment plant has been set up at a cost of tens of crores to process it. Since it is not functioning, liquid waste has filled up four ditches, each more than 50 feet deep.

Kannur Gram Panchayat blocks Garbage Dumping

 Compactors filled with waste lined up at Mittaganahalli, Bellahalli landfills

Kannur Gram Panchayat blocks Garbage Dumping 

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: More than 300 compactors that collect waste from many parts of the city are not empty. As compactors have been lined up at the Mittaganahalli landfill for two days, waste is filling up the city's roads.

'Waste is being disposed of unscientifically, and the surrounding environment is being damaged. Liquid waste (leachate) is coming out more and more, and the surrounding lakes, ditches, wells, and borewells are also polluted. This impurity is getting mixed in the daily water and is having a bad effect on health. Therefore, stop the unscientific waste disposal,' Kannur Gram Panchayat members are campaigning.

‘BBMP has been disposing of garbage in the government cowshed of Mittaganahalli village for nine years. But without taking care of the environment here, they have not fulfilled the promise made before starting the disposal. Therefore, we will not allow compactors to landfill waste,’ said Kannur Gram Panchayat President S. Ashok, members led by Ashok blocked the path of the compactors.

‘We have complained to Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) about this, but to no avail. The liquid waste flowing from the Mittaganahalli landfill area has polluted Bellahalli Lake, Kannur Lake, Chikkagubbi Lake, Dodda Gubbi Lake and Rampur Lake, and thousands of fish are dying. The groundwater has been contaminated. They have complained that dozens of health problems are being faced by local residents and have also written to the state government's Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, requesting action.

Inside the Mittaganahalli landfill area and up to Bellahalli, Bellahalli Cross, compactors filled with waste have been lined up for two days. There is a problem of foul smell here every day, and the foul smell has increased further since the compactors are parked.

No water, no food: drivers

"They are not allowing waste disposal since Tuesday morning. Hundreds of compactors are standing on the road. They are not leaving, they are not there. They have not been able to eat since yesterday. This is a deserted area. They do not get food or water. If you need anything, you have to walk two km. What happened here on Monday night was terrible," the compactor drivers lamented.

‘We were standing near Bellahalli Cross on Tuesday morning, sir. This morning (Tuesday), some compactors went inside. However, no compactor is leaving the weighing gate,’ he said.

‘About 25 compactors that disposed of waste at the Mittaganahalli landfill on Tuesday morning have been prevented from leaving. The way to and from the compactor has been blocked,’ the drivers said.

Fierce struggle if scientific disposal is not done: Ashok

‘Waste is being dumped unscientifically at the Mittaganahalli landfill. Animal waste, medical waste, toxic waste from factories are also being brought here and dumped. A body was also found along with the waste. A complaint was made to BSWML Chief General Manager Lokesh about this, but to no avail. Waste disposal has been prevented because garbage is not being disposed of scientifically. No one has come to talk to us. If our request is not met, the villagers and educational institutions will fight,” said Kannur Gram Panchayat President S. Ashok.

Unnecessary trouble: Lokesh

‘In Mittaganahalli, waste is being disposed of in the same way as landfills were used in the past years. There is no difference. However, some people have unnecessarily caused trouble and blocked the compactors. Talks are being held with them,’ said BSWML Chief General Manager Lokesh.

‘They are saying that the production of liquid waste (leachate) in the landfill area is high and the lakes are polluted. However, according to the report given by the State Pollution Control Board, no liquid waste is entering the lakes. We are disposing of waste scientifically. The body was not found in our landfill area. It is where construction waste is dumped. It has nothing to do with waste,’ he said.

Waste left in autos

As compactors filled with waste have been stopped at the Mittaganahalli landfill, waste collected from homes in many areas of the city is left in autos. 

Around 400 compactors were disposing of waste at the Mittaganahalli landfill every day from 6 am to 6 pm. This disposal did not take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. The compactors did not come out. Thus, the waste remains in autos in the city, creating a foul smell on the roads.

‘There is a problem in some areas of the city due to the waste not being landfilled in Mittaganahalli. We can manage it for the next two days. After that, there will be a problem,’ said BSWML Chief General Manager Lokesh.

‘Kere Connect Habba’ to create awareness among citizens

 Aiming to make local residents, students responsible for protecting water bodies

‘Kere Connect Habba’ to create awareness among citizens

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: ‘Kere Connect Habba- 2025’ has been launched with the aim of making citizens and children aware of the lakes in the city and informing the locals about the responsibility of the communities in their protection.

‘Kere Connect Habba’ aims to make citizens aware of the importance of lakes in the city, and to provide solutions to local residents to face water security, flood problems and other challenges.

Rapid urbanization has reduced sustainable living with water resources. ‘Kere Connect Habba’ is being celebrated to recreate such a connection. Experts will provide information about biodiversity through this festival. Residents around the respective lakes, associations involved in lake protection, and school children will be brought together and their roles in water protection will be explained.

The ‘Kere Connect Habba’ is being organized by the India Care Foundation in several lakes of the city, along with Friends of Lake, along with many corporate and local organizations. The organizers said that permission has been obtained from the BBMP to celebrate the festival in the lakes.

Permission: Permission has been granted to ‘Kere Connect Habba’ in several lakes of the city to create awareness among the people and to prevent damage to the lake environment. Separate permission is being obtained for celebrating the festival in each lake, said Vijayakumar Haridas, Chief Engineer, Lakes Department, BBMP.

Ganga-Kaveri Aarti for a lake without water flow!

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake of  near Magadi Road was developed by the BBMP two years ago at a cost of ₹22.4 crore. However, today there is not even a drop of water in this lake. Ganga-Kaveri Aarti is organized in such a lake during the ‘Kere Connect Habba’.

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake has been developed by the BBMP under the ‘Shubhra Bengaluru’ project and the previous canal route has been changed. Water does not come from the existing inflow. Therefore, despite good rainfall for the last two years, this lake is not filled with even a couple of feet of water.

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake, which has been constructed unscientifically, is like a ‘hi-tech park’, and the lake has lost its existence due to the lack of inflow.

‘Let the feeling of calling the lake theirs come’

‘The residents around the lake do not even know that the Srigandhada  Kaval Lake is here. Even the children of the schools in the vicinity are not aware of the lake. Therefore, the locals and children should feel that the lake is theirs. They should take responsibility to protect it and keep it clean. Therefore, the ‘Kere Connect Habba’ has been organized on Saturday, March 15 at Srigandhada  Kaval Lake. Various programs have been organized from 7 am to night. We will perform aarti so that water comes to the lake and fills it up even in the next rainy season. ‘Usiru and Team Spotlight organizations will manage the program,’ said Shobha Bhat of Usiru.

Festival at Kaval Lake in Srigandha (Saturday, March 15)

• Lake biodiversity walk
• Children's painting competition
• Stage program
• Information and discussion from experts
• Food from the garden workshop
• Rural games
• Cultural program
• Deepotsava, Ganga-Kaveri Aarti
• Collection of old clothes, old shoes
• Free bag stitching offer if you bring old clothes
• Exhibition stalls on sustainability awareness

BBMP budget to exceed ₹18 thousand crore

 Implementation of mega projects, allocation of funds are in ‘realistic budget’!

BBMP budget to exceed ₹18 thousand crore

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, which has received a large contribution of grants and guarantees through the state government budget, is preparing to present an ‘outline budget’ for the implementation of its mega projects.

BBMP, which will receive an additional grant of ₹4 thousand crore from the state budget from 2025-26, will provide information on which projects it will allocate it, and how the tunnel road project, which has received a guarantee of ₹19 thousand crore, will be implemented. Thus, it is estimated that the BBMP budget will exceed ₹18 thousand crore.

In the last one year, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has announced many projects, including mega projects, including the tunnel road. The feasibility report for the ‘Bengaluru Integrated Traffic Management Project’, which will construct 16 flyovers/underpasses for smooth traffic in the city at a cost of about ₹54,000 crore, is also ready. 

Officials said that the BBMP budget will indicate the funding for 21 projects under the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ concept, including these projects, and the city’s infrastructure projects, their titles and implementation areas. 

There are many doubts among the citizens about the tunnel road project, which is considered the city’s biggest project, at a cost of about ₹40,000 crore. There is also confusion about the implementation process of this project. The budget will provide a clear outline to resolve all this. 

Although the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ready, the process of inviting tenders for the north-south corridor of the tunnel road has been postponed by four months. Now, the tender process will start only after the budget. The state government's budget clearly states that a 'Special Purpose Vehicle' (SPV) will be set up for the implementation and management of major projects. Thus, the BBMP budget will decide which projects will be managed under the SPV, as well as the procedure for the SPV.

Presentation on 20: 

BBMP budget preparation is in the final stage, all that remains is to hold a meeting with the people's representatives and seek their advice. After this, the budget will be finalized under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister.

Since March 30 and 31 are government holidays, the BBMP budget has to be approved by the government by March 29. Thus, the budget will be presented on March 20 or 21. Sources said that the BBMP, which has received 'financial strength' from the state government, hopes to present a budget that is popular with the people of the city.

Final preparations underway: Harish

‘The preparation of the BBMP budget is in the final stages, and discussions will be held with the city’s ministers and MLAs this week. Suggestions have already been received from the citizens. A ‘real budget’ will be presented, which will include the nature and implementation details of the projects to be undertaken in the city next year,’ said BBMP Finance Special Commissioner Harish Kumar.

BBMP Budget 2024–25

₹ 12,371.63 crore; Total Budget Estimate

₹ 12,369.46 crore; Total Expenditure

₹2.17 crore; Savings

=

BBMP Budget 2023–24

₹11,163 crore; Total Budget Estimate

₹11,157 crore; Total Expenditure

₹6.14 crore; Savings

Government's financial strength for BNG mega projects

 ₹7,000 crore grant every year; Guarantee for tunnel road loan

Government's financial strength for BNG mega projects

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: The state government, which has provided relief to the financial crunch faced by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to undertake mega projects in the city, has provided financial strength to build tunnel roads and flyovers.

The projects announced in the budget for Bengaluru, including tunnel roads, flyovers, grade separators, and 21 projects under the 'Brand Bengaluru' concept, have been announced frequently in the last budget and subsequent periods. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had also often spoken about government grants and guarantees for mega projects. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced and authorized such projects and grants and loan guarantees in the budget.

Dozens of flyovers and underpasses have been planned to ease traffic in the BBMP area. However, BBMP did not have the financial capacity to spend on them. The corporation had to depend on the ₹3,000 crore provided by the government every year under the ‘Capital Support for Special Infrastructure’ scheme to manage major projects. Hence, there was anxiety when new projects had to be undertaken. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has removed such anxieties, has made everything easier by providing its own grant and loan guarantee for each major project.

The ₹3,000 crore under the ‘Capital Support for Special Infrastructure’ scheme has been increased to ₹7,000 crore. Since it has been said that a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ (SPV) will be set up to look after the projects to be managed under this grant, accountability has been fixed. Through this, the projects for which the ₹7,000 crore grant has been allocated will be available under one platform. It is a good plan that the construction of a 120 km long flyover and grader separators will be managed by the SPV.

Furthermore, the city’s much-awaited tunnel road has been given a clear shape in the budget. The BBMP will avoid mortgaging its assets as the government has said that it will guarantee ₹19,000 crore of the ₹40,000 crore required for the East-West and North-South tunnel road corridors. 

The projects under the ‘Brand Bangalore’ concept have been reiterated in the budget. The development of 460 km of road network for which the tender process has been completed has also been proposed. The scheme to provide grants for three years to make the city a city of international health standards can improve the health facilities of the city residents if implemented at least this time. 

Although the sewerage, STP system development, our metro line, and Bangalore Business Corridor projects are all old, the steps taken for their implementation and information on taking loans have been announced and made official in the budget. 

Overall, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s budget for 2025-26 is a joy for Bengaluru. The income of BBMP is in terms of taxes. About four thousand crores are coming from this, and the projects should have been carried out from there. However, from the next financial year, four thousand crores will come mostly from the government, and huge projects will be implemented. The state budget has given a huge contribution to BBMP this time.

Brand Bengaluru: No focus on pothole repair

 The project to plant 2 lakh saplings under the ‘Green Bengaluru’ concept has not been launched

Brand Bengaluru: No focus on pothole repair

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Although ₹450 crore has been allocated in the budget for 225 wards to repair potholes on roads, potholes on BBMP ward roads continue to increase.

Under the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ concept, works to keep the city’s roads in good condition were also announced in the budget under the ‘Sugama Sanchar Bengaluru’ scheme. Apart from main and sub-main roads, funds were allocated for the development of ward roads. However, potholes remain.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had given a deadline of 15 days to repair potholes before leaving for a foreign trip last September. On this occasion, the Chief Commissioner, Zonal Commissioners, Joint Commissioners and Principal Engineers, including the Chief Commissioner, went out on the roads for a few nights and supervised the repair of potholes. Shivakumar had also submitted a report to him.

Although the main roads are somewhat better, the ward roads are in a very bad condition. The officials keep making excuses that ‘tenders have been called and the repair work will be done’. They are not paying much attention to the repair of the potholes. The repair work will be done only after the tender processes are completed as per its norms and work orders are issued.

‘Exhibition’ in the science laboratory

In the ‘Education Bangalore’ concept, ₹45 crore was allocated in the budget to provide high-tech facilities to BBMP schools. The intention was to set up a computer lab, an information science laboratory, and e-libraries. The school staff themselves are saying that ‘although computers have come to some schools, they have not come with the necessary equipment. Although smart boards have been installed, there is no staff to use them’.

The materials required for the science laboratory have reached some schools. But the consent of senior officials has not been received for their use. Thus, they are arranged like ‘display dolls’. The plan to set up ‘school gardens’ in primary and high schools has not yet been launched.

‘Green Bengaluru’

Under the ‘Green Bengaluru’ scheme, it was intended to green the city by planting two lakh saplings in the city. A scheme was launched in June to give children the responsibility of maintaining saplings during Environment Day. Later, that too failed and all the saplings withered. Tenders have been called for planting and maintaining the saplings at the end of the financial year. The forest department is planning to spend more than ₹3,000 per sapling. However, the bold program of planting lakhs or thousands of saplings has not been done yet.

DCM said engineers cannot be trusted

‘I cannot believe the report given by the engineers. I have repaired my college-age bike and I will inspect the roads on the bike,’ said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar while inspecting the pothole repair work on major roads for a couple of hours (September 2024). Later, he did not come for inspection. Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath had said, ‘More than a thousand potholes are being created every day. Repair is a continuous process. A pothole-free road is impossible.’ Later, pothole repair has become a priority.

Budget that has not reached the people: Basavaraju

‘Since there are no corporators in BBMP, the budget required by the officials has been presented. It has not reached the common people. Although it is said that thousands of crores have been spent on road work, they have not been able to close the potholes. They are not providing the basic facilities that the people need,’ complained A.H. Basavaraju, former leader of the BBMP ruling party. 

Budget allocation for 2024-25

₹150 crore – Clean Bengaluru

• ₹100 crore – Land acquisition for waste treatment
• ₹10 crore – Public toilets
• ₹10 crore – Solid waste management equipment
• ₹30 crore – Sweeper

₹450 crore for 225 wards

• ₹30 lakh each for drainage, maintenance
• ₹15 lakh each for pothole closure
• ₹25 lakh each for footpath maintenance
• ₹5 lakh each for maintenance of monsoon control room
• ₹1.25 crore each for development works

₹50 crore – Education Bengaluru

(Educational progress programmes, high quality education, uniforms, infrastructure development)

Maximum of 7 Municipal Corporations Instead of BBMP

 Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee Report Recommends

Maximum of 7 Municipal Corporations Instead of BBMP

Bengaluru: The Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee has submitted its report stating that a maximum of seven municipal corporations should be formed under the ‘Greater Bangalore Administrative Authority’ and the mayor should have a tenure of 30 months.

Committee Chairman Rizwan Arshad presented the report in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

When the ‘Greater Bangalore Administrative Bill-2024’ was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on July 25, 2024, members objected. As they insisted on referring it to a House Committee, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had promised to form a House Committee to examine the bill. Accordingly, the Legislative Assembly Speaker formed a ‘Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee’ on August 22, 2024 and appointed Rizwan Arshad as its Chairman.

‘The committee has held discussions with officials from the Urban Development Department, Parliamentary Affairs, Legislative Department, and Law Department. Also, advice has been sought from the MLAs representing the city. Opinions have been received from citizens and organizations, and many changes have been suggested, and a report has been prepared and submitted,’ Rizwan Arshad informed.

No financial power: The ‘Greater Bangalore Authority’ (GBA) cannot have any power regarding the rates of taxes, fees, cesses, and user charges of the municipal corporations. It is an advisory authority and may have the power to take policy-related decisions, the report states.

The committee, which has sought the opinion of the Advocate General on whether the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Bill’ would be contrary to the 74th Amendment to the Constitution, has suggested that the State Finance Commission’s recommendation should be sought for the distribution of funds among the municipal corporations.

The state government can provide core funds for major projects through the GBA. The administrative expenses of the GBA should be borne by the government. The report states that consultations should be held with the concerned municipal corporations before undertaking major projects.

Key recommendations of the report: 

• * The term of office of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor should be 30 months
• * There should be approximately the same number of wards in the newly created municipal corporations
• * The number of wards in each municipal corporation should not be less than 100
• * Each municipal corporation should start with ‘Bengaluru’. For example: Bangalore East Municipal Corporation, Bangalore West Municipal Corporation, Bangalore South Municipal Corporation
• * A resident of a municipal corporation should be allowed to contest in only one ward
• * After being elected as a municipal corporation member, one cannot change the voter list of a ward of another municipal corporation. If you do so, your membership will be cancelled
• * The Regional Commissioner in the Greater Bangalore Authority should be named as the Chief Commissioner
• * The District Collector and Superintendent of Police should be members in the Greater Bangalore Authority
• * MPs should be considered as members of the authority in the event of voting rights
• * BBMP Act – 2020 should be included in the bill
• * Each standing committee should have a minimum of five and a maximum of 11 corporation members.
• * The term of the ward committee should be limited to 20 months
• * The MLA should be the chairman of the ‘Field Consultation and Coordination Committee’ and the corporation members should be members. The members of the Legislative Council who have votes in the assembly constituency should also be members
• * Tax should be imposed on entertainment programs
• * Property tax should be confiscated after two years of non-payment of arrears, and action should be taken to auction it after one year
• * The power to create private streets should be given to the commissioner from the ward committee
• * Separate committees should be formed for lakes, fisheries, and horticulture

Objection to spelling and grammatical errors

The Joint Scrutiny Committee of the Legislative Assembly has found many spelling and grammatical errors in the Kannada version of the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Bill-2024’.

There are differences in the translation of the bill, which was written in English, into Kannada. The errors in the clauses have been shown in the report and it has been suggested to correct them.

The names of the posts have also been entered incorrectly. There are differences in terminology, and the wrong translation should be corrected. Noting the discrepancies in several sections, the committee also suggested that each chapter be newly translated and that Kannada and English versions be prepared and provided side by side.

Despite all these instructions, the draft bill has been published in English in the report submitted by the Joint Scrutiny Committee of the Legislature.