By Anuksha Dey
The residents’ right to breathe continues to be compromised in and around HSR Layout as the stink from Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) refuses to die down. The BBMP had promised to address the problem within six weeks, but there is no sign of that yet, angering the residents further.
In late February, members of the Kudlu, Hosapalya, Harlur, Somasundarapalya and Parangipalya Residents Welfare Association (KHHSP RWA) were assured that the stench from KCDC would stop after six weeks. Their reason: The Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) material would be cleared by then. Today, over a month later, residents of the area continue to suffer from the plant’s bad odour even after BBMP officials claim that the RDF is cleared.
Residents complain about the stench
Residents from Somasundara Palya say that the odour from the plant has become unbearable. Lalithamba BV of KHHSP RWA says, “The stink is horrible at night.” Kamesh Rastogi, another RWA member says that the smell greets him every day between 7pm and 7am, “It depends on the wind direction… when the wind is strong, the odour can travel as far as HSR Police station on 27th Main.” We have had people complaining of the stink even on Hosur Road and Sector 3 and Sector 4 of HSR Layout, which is almost two kilometres from the composting plant.
KCDC claims RDF material has been largely removed
The BBMP officials claim that the RDF is finally removed. “The RDF material has largely been removed,” special commissioner, BBMP (solid waste management and animal husbandry), Randeep Dev told Residents Watch. “While removing RDF and inert material, some odour is emitted. We largely use odour sprays and turn the windrows (rows in which biodegradable waste is piled) for aeration and controlling the smell.” However, the residents had been promised that the RDF material would be cleared by March itself.
“We are talking after 5-6 weeks, so we need to know how much RDF is left, how much of it is stored, and how much is being shifted out,” says Rastogi. The residents point out that KCDC had spent over ₹ 2 crores on biofilter plants. They are supposed to filter air before it enters the environment. “The biofilter has not been working for months, and there is no clarity on when it is going to be operational.”
No public access to the plant
“Now if the RDF removal is over, what excuse do you have for the stench that has been the same all these years?” HSR Layout resident Meera Rotti tweeted to the BBMP and KCDC officials. “Kindly don’t bother to tell me that it was from somewhere else.” While some employees of KCDC have assured the residents that the RDF material has already been cleared, plant manager Jay Kumar is refusing to disclose any information to the resident’s group. Besides, BBMP Joint Commissioner (Bommanahalli) M Ramakrishna has refused permission for public entry to the plant.
In the lack of any official statement by KCDC, the residents are forced to draw their conclusions. “It could be because KCDC was planning for a plantation in the RDF cleared area and maybe they are digging it up, but we are not sure,” says Lalithamba. Adds Rastogi: “When our team contacted the Joint Commissioner, he said we cannot allow citizens to go inside the plant. They are not picking up our calls or allowing entry. The gate that used to allow access to the plant from Somasundrapalya lake is closed, and a wall has come up, so that we cannot even look into the plant. Experience tells us that there is something wrong inside the plant; otherwise there would not be so much secrecy around the issue.”
Fact-finding report in February
Members of KHHSP had earlier been on a fact-finding mission to the KCDC premises. At the time, they were convinced that the situation at the plant had improved, and the authorities had promised them that the stench would subside in six weeks. Rastogi says that the BBMP joint commissioner had welcomed the residents at the time by saying that it was a public plant. “But now, the JC seems to have taken a U-turn on his stance,” says Rastogi.
Fight for Right to Breathe
Members of KHHSP have been fighting for their right to breathe since the KCDC plant was reopened in 2013. In 2018, they filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the composting plant. However, KCDC is yet to take action on the recommendations given by the Karnataka High Court. The KCDC plant had also previously encroached the Somasundrapalya lake area. Soon, this problem was resolved, and the lake land was returned to the BBMP.
