Bengaluru: About seven years ago, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) proposed that a patch of land near Jalahalli Metro station be made part of an underpass project. But thanks to a lack of progress in the project, the vacant land has now become a dumpyard. Untamed weed has proliferated in the area and huge amounts of waste are burnt almost every night, releasing toxic fumes. The conditions are exacerbated as the plot has also emerged as a wild peeing hotspot.
The foundation stone for the underpass project was laid in 2021 by the then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, but the project was stalled because of land acquisition issues. The dumpyard has had dire effects on the businesses that surround it. Gangamma, a tea stall owner nearby, said: “It causes a lot of trouble to the people working around it. The foul stench is unbearable, I hardly get customers any more because of the stench lingering in the air.”
Prajwal S, manager of a restaurant located near the dump, said, “There was a building on that land a few years ago, but it was demolished for the underpass work, which only paved the way for this nuisance. The empty land has become a dumpyard and public urinal. Consequently, my customer flow has also been affected. People don’t like eating here because of the stench.”
Kempamma, a fruit and flower seller, said garbage is burnt frequently on the plot. “Flowers, which would last for four days normally, are rotting within a day or two because of the smoke and dust in the air. Customers don’t buy fruits because they’re worried about their hygiene and safety. Moreover, I’ve developed a dust allergy because of the dump.”
Residents are also upset about the hygiene conditions in the neighbourhood. Ketaki Borkar, who lives in an apartment in the vicinity, admitted she is reluctant to eat at the nearby eateries. “I’m worried about the effect of the unsanitary conditions around these eateries. There could be bacterial issues that could lead to stomach upset, which worries me.”
Senior officials working with Bangalore Solid Waste Management Ltd told TOI they are addressing black spots in the city and will soon address this one as well. “We’re doing everything we can to keep the city clean; however, there are many eateries that dump garbage at night, and then it keeps piling up.”
— Shreya Jorapur