Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner Dr. Rajendra K. V. On Tuesday August 24 visited Bondanthila village under Neermarga Gram Panchayat to inspect the location identified to set up Solid Waste Management Unit here on a complaint by local residents.
The residents had appealed to the DC that the land identified and allotted for the project currently was a private property and thus would pose problems to local residents and farmers of the nearby areas if the unit is set up.
Previously, all the neighbouring Gram Panchayats under Mangaluru City Corporation limits would dump their waste at Pachanady village. However, after the recent incident of fire breaking out at the unit, the village refused to take wastes from other Gram Panchayats. This necessitated the DC to deliberate on setting up Solid Waste Management Unit at every Gram Panchayat.
In this backdrop, the DC visited the Bondanthila village and heard the grievances of the villagers. He assured that a different government land could be identified.
Speaking to News Karnataka, Dr. Rajendra K. V. said, “Bondanthila village under Neermarga Gram Panchayat will decide on Solid Waste Management Unit. I am not deciding the location. I have visited there to relinquish the Kumki rights in favour of Gram Panchayat to use the land for any public purpose.” He added that the CEO of Zilla Panchayat will decide on other issues related to Gram Panchayat.
As far as Standard Operating Procedure is concerned, I am not giving any as Zilla Panchayat follows Swachh Bharath Mission Guidelines prescribed by the Government of India, he said.
Speaking to News Karnataka, local Project Development Officer Sudheer said that we want a scientific Solid Waste Management Unit to be set up at the village in the area of about one acre. We are planning to produce manure from the wet waste too, he added.
He further urged that it is the demand of the villagers that the seven-acre Revenue Department kumki land in the village should be used for the project.
