Garbage spills out on MG Road, due to inadequacy

City Health

The garbage bins are open in MG road and its neighbouring roads. Things turn worse when skies open.

Pedestrians on M.G. Road and its adjacent roads have to deal with an unpleasant situation: The few garbage bins overflow as they are open.

Savita Bhatt, who resides near M.G. Road, informed The Observer: “When the garbage overflows, it gets messy. Sometimes, BBMP doesn’t collect it for two or three days. But plastic bins are better as they can store more garbage than the small steel ones. People don’t put garbage properly, creating a mess on roads.”

Anita Jacob, a pedestrian, said: “I am happy to see the implementation of these bins. But as they are open, people dump garbage carelessly and it falls down, creating a mess on the footpath.”

Thousands of people walk on M.G. Road, Church Street and other neighbouring roads every day; crowds increase on weekends.

The Observer found that these dustbins are mostly open. Bins with lids are only in front of apartments. Some of the open dustbins were broken on the top. When the bins fill up, residents pack waste in black plastic bags and place them in front of the bins, taking up space of the footpath. Street vendors occupy much of the footpath, leaving little space for people to walk.

When it rains, water mixes with garbage, creating a foul scene.

Maihtreyi Bulgannawar, who was walking on Church Street, said: “The most irritating thing about these open dustbins is the stinking smell that comes out of them.”

M Lokesh, superintending engineer, solid waste management, BBMP, said the plastic bins were installed in March 2018. “We installed dustbins with the lids, but they were stolen. We don’t know how. But, yes, we plan to replace those broken and open dustbins with bins that have lids.”

Umashankar Arun, an environmentalist said: “These dustbins were installed by BBMP for temporary purposes. If we do not educate society, segregation of waste will not be done properly. Both the government and citizens should take the initiative to keep surroundings clean. The waste that is being generated by shops should be dumped in their bins.”

“People smoke, drink, eat and throw the waste material outside the bins; they don’t even notice the bins. They have the audacity to throw it on streets despite knowing it is hazardous,” he added.

BBMP’s solid waste management rules prescribe penalties for offenders clearly states that:

“Failure to comply with any lawful directions issued by the commissioner to ensure cleanliness and hygiene of road, bus station, railway station, street, playground, park and other premises of public utility – Rs 100/ for first time, Rs.200 for second and subsequent offences. Irregular deposit of rubbish or filth or any solid waste – Rs 100 for first time, Rs 200 for second and subsequent offences. Allowing filth to flow in streets – Rs 100 for first time, Rs 200 for second and subsequent offences.”

ankita.m@iijnm.org

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