Months after an extensive clean-up transformed a notorious 200-metre garbage hotspot in Chikka Gowdanapalya into a tidy green stretch, residents have resumed dumping waste at the site. The beautification—done with painted walls, rangoli designs, and a protective green net—lasted only briefly.
Locals blame inconsistent garbage collection for the relapse. In March, over 100 volunteers from Youth for Parivarthan, aided by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), cleared piles of trash near the Ganesha temple between Kumaraswamy Layout and Padmanabhanagar. Though the effort removed foul odours and improved the area’s appearance, the improvements eroded within a month as waste began accumulating again.
Manjunatha, who owns a bag shop nearby, said BBMP was repeatedly alerted to take stringent measures. “Some volunteers painted the walls to deter dumping, but soon people started throwing garbage again, mostly at night,” he said. Initially, a BBMP marshal was stationed to monitor the area, but enforcement didn’t last. He urged authorities to install warning signs and issue fines.
Murthy, another resident, explained that irregular van timings leave people with no choice. “Wet waste attracts mosquitoes and rats. Sometimes the van comes at 6 am, and many miss it,” he said.
A BSWML official insisted that collection happens as scheduled, but many residents, including bachelors and students, continue discarding waste irresponsibly despite awareness drives.