‘It is not possible’

Koramangala complex employs pvt contractor to clear dry waste, gets a dire warningThe garbage mafia operating in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is getting more menacing by the day: It has started issuing threats to residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) that try to dispose of garbage on their own instead of being at the mercy of the contractors engaged by the civic agency.A major fracas unfolded in Koramangala on Friday morning when a few garbage contractors, in collusion with some BBMP officials, descended on the upscale Prestige St John’s Wood apartment complex and took objection to the movement of dry waste through a private transporter.Angry residents retorted: "Neither do you (BBMP's garbage contractors) clear the waste from our locality despite we paying the taxes nor are you allowing us to get it cleared through private contractors. Do you expect us to live in the midst of filth and squalor because of your lethargy?"The showdown triggered tense moments for some time in the area till the police reached the spot and took control of the situation.The apartment complex, which has 485 flats, is also home of several top bureaucrats and businessmen. It is arguably one of the few apartment complexes in the city that strictly follows the garbage segregation policy and has its own organic waste converter (OWC) that processes all wet waste into compost. It also has a fully-compliant sewage treatment plant.But the only component it is dependent on the civic agency is with regards to disposing the dry waste.Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Prestige St Johns Wood Apartment Owners Association (PSJWOA) president Rajiv Varma said: “Our garbage (dry waste) was not lifted for over 14 days now. Our attempts to connect with our corporator (ward 152, Suddugunte Palya) were unsuccessful. We also attempted to contact minister Ramalinga Reddy’s office but they expressed their inability to assist us (as Reddy handed over the Bengaluru in-charge minister portfolio to K J George recently). We then took matters in our hands and got hold of a private contractor who lifted some garbage on Wednesday night as there was a huge stink in the complex and there was a fear of outbreak of disease.”But trouble started on Friday morning when the private contractor came back with two tractors to fill up the waste.Another resident said: “A few BBMP officials came stating that they had instruction from mayor’s office not to allow us to send garbage outside through private transporters and contractors. While we were trying to explain the magnitude of the problem to the officials the BBMP-assigned garbage contractor along with his men came to the spot and threatened the private operator (whom we had hired) of dire consequences if he lifted the waste from the apartment complex.”The residents called up the police seeking the latter’s intervention. It was only after the cops arrived at the scene was the private contractor allowed to leave the complex along with the garbage.* F irst of all, I am not in town, and it is not possible that someone can go and say that he has come from my office, so the garbage cannot be lifted by the private contractor. If residents claim it happened, let them justify it; I will initiate action against the person. But if the BBMP contractor has not lifted dry waste, then I will check with the officials and find out why it was not lifted. Actually, the dry waste has to be sent to Sheegehalli village where we have a full unit functioning.* The issue is only with bulk generators. To address this issue, we have empanelled vendors to collect the dry waste. If the empanelled vendor is not lifting the dry waste, then the bulk generators need to take care of it themselves. Let them send the waste to the plants maintained by BBMP.