Vijinanapura residents want burning of animal waste to stop

Permanent solution for waste burning isn't possible, say officials. People are desperate for some respite, and have taken to social media to seek help.

For more than a year, residents of Vijinanapura have been complaining to the BBMP about illegal dumping of animal waste near Benniganahalli Lake. There are about eight butcher shops in the 1.5 km stretch from Purva Midtown and the KR Puram Railways station. Everyday, feathers, inedible meat, carcasses (and at one time even a dead cow) are burnt near an overlay bridge at 3rd main road. The smoke, residue and stench from this has made life miserable for them.

“This happens every morning, where tempo trucks drive up, dump about seven to eight cement bags of animal waste which they then set on fire creating a health hazard for everybody living around” says Sridhar Kapa, a member of KR Puram Rising and a resident of the area for about two years. The professional was diagnosed with bronchitis which his doctors ascribe to the inhalation of residue from the burning.

Burning of waste continues without break.

The BBMP has been notified about the problem multiple times. There have been two protests in the recent times. “But we have had instances where the BBMP themselves are dumping debris and waste. They pick up the pace (of cleaning) for a few weeks after people make some noise and then it is back to square one. But there hasn’t been a permanent solution to the problem; only stop gap arrangements” says Sridhar.

The animal waste that is burnt near 3rd A main road includes meat, feathers among other things.

The area falls under a BJP corporator and an MLA from Congress and therefore political help is fractured at best. “We went to the corporator recently to discuss possible permanent solutions to the problem. We were told that with the upcoming elections, the model code of conduct would be in place soon, so permanent solutions wouldn’t be possible immediately!” he says.

The residents have now taken to Twitter, tagging the Chief Minister’s office, the BBMP Mayor and even the Swacch Bharat App to highlight the problem since the start of the month.

According to BBMP’s Solid Waste Management Plan for Vijinanapura ward, there are 20 auto tippers, 1 compactor and 118 pourakarmikas to keep area clean. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

Unplanned growth, flawed notification endanger Delhi wetlands

Increased public involvement and lessons from successful restoration attempts can help revive the crucial wetlands under threat in the city.

Have you been to the Surajpur wetland, near Surajpur village in Gautam Budh Nagar district? Located in the midst of an expansive industrial city under the administrative purview of the Greater Noida Development Authority, it reveals itself as a mosaic of a sprawling lake, towering trees and thousands of birds, many flying in from distant lands. As you enter the wetland, the guards tell you not to go beyond the second viewpoint. It is untamed territory, the domain of many wild animals, they warn.  However, all has not been well in this sanctuary of nature. In January 2024, the Uttar…

Similar Story

Lake Health Index reveals pollution concerns in Bengaluru’s water bodies

The citizen-driven Lake Health Index project assessed the condition of three lakes in the city: Ulsoor, Doddabommasandra and Shivapura.

Bengaluru grapples with a persistent water stress, worsened by the decline in rainfall, overexploitation of groundwater and decreasing Cauvery River levels. The water crisis has led experts and the government to reconsider using lakes as a source of water, either by storing treated wastewater or harvested rainwater. The draining of lakes, like Bellandur and Varthur, for desilting has contributed to a major part of the groundwater crisis in Bengaluru. However, with the upcoming monsoon predicted to be normal, there is a looming concern regarding the lakes in the city. The anticipated rains may bring one of the highest influxes of…