BBMP to pay farmers Rs. 66 a tonne of wet waste to covert it into manure

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) claims to have found a unique solution to the city’s waste problem. It will pay farmers Rs. 66 a tonne of wet waste to compost it and use the manure in their fields.

A resolution to this effect was passed by the BBMP council on Saturday. BBMP Commissioner Rajneesh Goel said he had written to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) seeking permission to deliver organic waste to farmers and the board had okayed it, directing the BBMP to deliver 20 tonnes per acre per year.

“There is lot of demand for organic waste. The city generates 1,500 tonnes of wet waste on an average. We can send it to farmers in a 100-km radius around the city. It will be transported free of cost. Interested farmers may contact the BBMP,” Mr. Goel said.

The BBMP will sign a memorandum of understanding with the farmers. “The waste will take just 3 per cent of an acre to be composted. This is a win-win situation for both farmers and BBMP.”

Earlier in the council, the garbage issue once again was hotly debated. Opposition leaders alleged that under the new tenders, there was bias in allocation of pourakarmikas in wards represented by them. Opposition Leader M.K. Gunashekar termed it “unscientific” and claimed the number of pourakarmikas allocated for wards represented by BJP councillors was higher than that allocated for wards represented by those from Congress and Janata Dal (S). Subhashnagar councillor T. Mallesh blamed the officials for this and sought to know on what basis the allocations were made.

Garbage tenders

Mr. Goel said the garbage tenders were yet to be opened. “After they are, they will be sent to the Standing Committee for Taxation and Finance and then to the council. Reallocation can be done at both these levels.” There was a provision to increase manpower and machinery by 25 per cent under the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act.

Shanthinagar MLA N.A. Haris sought rehabilitation of residents of EWS Quarters who were not the original allottees. To this, Mr. Goel said the High Court had clearly directed the BBMP to allot houses only to the original allottees.