Aafrin Kidwai 
C&D debris is often found lying on the roads of Bengaluru
Cement industries have once again refused to take processed waste from the city’s wet waste processing units. As a result, the BBMP has asked the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Chief Secretary to intervene, reports The New Indian Express.
Cement industries in Bidar, Raichur, Yadgir and Kalaburgi and other parts of north Karnataka have refused to take the waste, to be used as fuel for cement generation, from the BBMP, citing high transportation costs as the reason, despite the National Green Tribunal appointed waste management committee’s attempt to iron out issues between the industries and the BBMP a month ago.
According to BBMP records, 50,000 tonnes of processed legacy waste generated over three years, is already lying at the seven waste processing units. Also, each day Bengaluru generates 500-600 tonnes of wet waste, of which 35-40% is turned into processed waste at the four functional wet waste processing units in Bengaluru. This amounts to around 250-300 tonnes of processed waste each day.
“The BBMP has said transportation cost should be borne by the industries, but the industry says transportation is a costly affair due to the distance. They also say the calorific value of the waste is not of optimum quality for the industry and would prefer to take it from nearer cities,” says an unnamed source in the NGT Committee. KSPCB officials said they will question both the BBMP and industries. Action must be taken before the NGT and Supreme Court question us, feel the authorities.
