Bengaluru, long celebrated as the Silicon City and Garden City, is increasingly earning the unfortunate tag of “Garbage City” as uncollected waste piles up across the city. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) struggles to manage solid waste effectively, with over 400 garbage trucks stranded due to stalled dumping operations at the Mittaganahalli quarry.

Public Outrage and Health Concerns

Residents have expressed frustration over the foul smell and the risk of disease outbreaks. Contaminated water, mixed with sewage from unscientific landfill sites, has allegedly led to cattle deaths and is posing severe health hazards. Many citizens have stopped BBMP vehicles in protest, demanding proper waste disposal.

Political Repercussions and Assembly Debate

The crisis has escalated into a political storm, with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar accusing Bengaluru MLAs of “blackmailing” him over garbage contracts. The government is exploring new land for waste disposal in Doddaballapur, with a decision expected after a March 19 meeting.

Meanwhile, the government’s proposal for a new garbage tax—estimated to generate ₹600 crore annually—has sparked backlash, as citizens demand transparency in the use of existing waste management funds.

Environmental and Health Hazards

  • Unscientific dumping of animal, medical, and industrial waste is increasing the risk of disease.
  • Groundwater contamination is causing respiratory and skin ailments, especially among children and the elderly.
  • Dead fish have been found in polluted lakes, signaling severe environmental degradation.

Opposition Demands Permanent Solutions

The BJP opposition has called for long-term waste management reforms, with MLAs C.N. Ashwath Narayan and C.K. Ramamurthy highlighting the failure of waste segregation and treatment facilities.

National Green Tribunal’s Involvement

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has repeatedly reprimanded BBMP for failing to comply with environmental norms. It has ordered the remediation of 78.94 lakh tonnes of legacy waste across nine landfill sites, highlighting the city’s waste mismanagement crisis.

What’s Next?

The upcoming March 19 meeting will determine whether Mittaganahalli quarry will resume waste disposal. However, BBMP officials warn that the site can only sustain waste for one more month. If a new landfill site near Mahadevapura is not identified soon, Bengaluru’s garbage crisis will escalate further.

As the city struggles to find sustainable solutions, residents, activists, and political leaders remain locked in a battle to reclaim Bengaluru from its growing waste problem.

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