Vinod M Jain
*10,056 Metric Tonnes of Construction & Demolition Waste Cleared from 453 Locations Across Bengaluru in Six Days.
*Freedom from Waste’Campaign to Be Further Intensified.
*Minister Directs Stronger Inter-Departmental Coordination to Accelerate ‘Freedom from Waste’ Campaign.
As the”Freedom from Waste”campaign gathers momentum across Bengaluru,Greater Bengaluru Development Minister,Krishna Byre Gowda today directed the Municipal Commissioner to issue notices to government departments that fail to undertake cleanliness and waste clearance activities.
Addressing a virtual review meeting on the “Freedom from Waste”campaign across the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) jurisdiction,the Minister said that all government offices within Bengaluru city must mandatorily clear waste from their premises and surrounding areas.
He instructed the Commissioner to issue notices to departments that fail to carry out the required cleanliness drives.
The Minister noted that the campaign has been progressing successfully and gathering momentum with each passing day.
Between August 1 and August 6,10,056 metric tonnes of Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste have been cleared from 453 public locations across the city.
He directed officials to also compile details of cleanliness drives undertaken by other government departments and ensure that citizens are made aware of the progress being achieved under the campaign.
He observed that it is natural for a campaign of this scale to face initial challenges.Any issues,however minor,should be resolved promptly through better coordination among departments so that the pace of the cleanliness drive continues to increase.
The Minister directed officials to ensure that waste disposal at designated quarry sites is not disrupted during the monsoon.
Construction and demolition debris must be disposed of only at government-designated locations.He also instructed officials to take preventive measures to ensure that cleaned locations are not used again for illegal dumping.
Marshals have been deployed at designated C&D waste disposal sites to monitor operations.
The Minister directed officials to provide them with shelters,drinking water and food arrangements.He also instructed that the arrival and departure of tipper trucks be properly recorded in registers.
At present,54 tipper trucks and 18 JCB machines are engaged in C&D waste clearance operations across the five municipal corporations.
The Minister directed officials to increase the number of tipper trucks and make optimum use of additional JCBs, tractors and Hitachi excavators wherever required to accelerate the campaign.
3,022 C&D Waste Dumping Sites Identified:
Officials and marshals have so far identified 3,022 locations across the city where Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste has been illegally dumped.
These sites are estimated to contain 59,823 metric tonnes of waste.The Minister directed officials to physically verify all identified locations and ensure there is no duplication with sites that have already been recorded.
Hold Discussions on Movement of Tipper Trucks:
The Minister noted that the Traffic Police are currently not permitting the movement of tipper trucks engaged in waste clearance between 7.00 am. and 10.00 am and 5.00 pm and 9.00 pm,causing delays in the campaign.
He directed the Chief Commissioner to hold discussions with senior Traffic Police officials and take necessary steps to allow vehicles engaged in the”Freedom from Waste”campaign to operate at all times.
Strengthen Coordination with the Railways:
The Minister observed that,despite directions issued by Union Minister of State for Railways,V.Somanna, cleanliness work on Railway land has not commenced to the expected extent.He directed the Chief Commissioner to coordinate with Railway authorities and expedite the work.
Waste Cleared by Municipal Corporation:
Bengaluru Central Municipal Corporation: 537 metric tonnes.
Bengaluru East Municipal Corporation: 1,448 metric tonnes.
Bengaluru North Municipal Corporation: 3,819 metric tonnes.
Bengaluru South Municipal Corporation: 1,672 metric tonnes.
Bengaluru West Municipal Corporation: 2,580 metric tonnes.
Total C&D Waste Cleared: 10,056 Metric Tonnes.
The meeting was attended by Chief Commissioner, Maheshwar Rao,Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited CEO,Karigowda,Pommal Sunil Kumar,Ramesh D.S,Ramesh K.N,Jagadish,Additional Commissioners, Chief Engineers and other senior officials.
