Bengaluru: Bengaluru’s mounting garbage crisis took a political turn on Friday as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar accused city MLAs across party lines of “blackmailing” the government by demanding ₹800 crore in development funds.
Speaking in the Legislative Council, Shivakumar referred to them as “blackmailers” and alleged that a “big mafia” was controlling the city’s solid waste management.
“I have seen reports about the garbage problem in the media. There is a big mafia. The garbage contractors have formed a cartel and quoted prices 85% higher than the standard rates. Now, they have approached the court preventing us from taking action,” Shivakumar, who is also Bengaluru Development Minister, said.
He further claimed that legal hurdles were delaying the government’s efforts to streamline solid waste management.
Shivakumar revealed that the government had planned to divide the city’s garbage disposal work into four zones and transport waste 50 km away, but the initiative had been stalled due to political pressure.
“Our Bengaluru MLAs are blackmailing us. I don’t want to name them. I am telling you the fact. They are from all parties. They want ₹800 crore as development funds. I cannot take their names here,” he alleged.
The Deputy CM said garbage trucks had been stranded in Mahadevapura for three days and urged MLAs to help identify 100 acres of land in Kolar, Nelamangala, Kanakapura Road, or near a forest area for permanent waste disposal.
“I (the government) will purchase the land and get a permanent solution. I asked the Industries Minister for 100 acres, and he wondered whether garbage should be dumped inside industries,” Shivakumar remarked.
The minister also acknowledged past failures in waste-to-energy projects. “I had been to Hyderabad and Chennai. All electric (units) have failed. The only option is gas. There is a chance to generate gas. I have seen it at three to four places,” he added.
Two locations—one with the Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) Road authorities and another in Doddaballapura—have been identified for waste disposal.
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