Mavallipura swm _bhargavi_rao_16_10_09

Thye story of Municipal solid Waste in Bengaluru

1. How ‘scientific’ is BBMPs Mavallipura How ‘scientific’ is BBMPs Mavallipura
Municipal Solid Waste Landfill? Municipal Solid Waste Landfill?

2. In 2003, BBMP started open dumping of Bangalore’s garbage on farmland
leased from Bylappa, a local farmer. Over 200 truckloads of un-segregated
waste was dumped every day for over four years. The waste was a mix of
Municipal, Hazardous and Biomedical waste, and probably industrial waste as
well.

3. Families of Ragpickers, dogs, birds and pigs scavenged on these hills of garbage all
day, scattering it further. No one knows how sick these ragpickers have become.

4. The waste caught fire periodically due to the latent thermodynamic heat generated by
the waste as it decomposed. Bylappa and his men also burnt of quite a bit of the waste
to decrease volume of the waste, increase capacity of his “landfill” and also as a peculiar
measure to ward off millions of flies, mosquitos and other disease carrying vectors.
Easily, toxic contaminants become air-borne. To keep the fire down, tankers of water
were used everyday to extinguish the fire, and the highly toxic water leached out to
contaminate soil and water. It was a mess.

5. The toxic leachate from this illegal dump was allowed to collect in trenches/ponds
and lakes around the garbage dump. Over time, all surface and ground water bodies
were contaminated beyond acceptable levels. ESG conducted a water analysis of
many surface and well waters in and around Mavallipura during 2006 and the
results reveal that all waters bodies downstream of this site are heavily
contaminated.

6. The dumping created severe stench, problem of mosquitoes and flies all around
the village of Mavallipura and the contaminated water caused severe health
impacts in 2006

7. Meanwhile, farming became
impossible. Local villagers who
depended on farming lost their
livelihoods and many even took to
scavenging recyclables on the
garbage piles for a living. The
situation was no better for cattle
rearers, as their grazing pastures
were taken away, and many ended
up scavenging waste for a living.

8. Mavallipura’s Toxic Waters
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9. Mavallipura’s Toxic Waters
M a v a l l i p u r a W a t e r A n a l y s i s - H e a v y M e t a l s
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( D e s i r a b l e
L i m i t ) a s
P e r m i s s i b l e
L i m i t i n t h e
a b s e n c e o f
F R L H T
( C o n t r o l )
L e a c h a t e
p o n d
A n a n d
B o r e w e l l
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( D e v r a j
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D i s t a n c e f r o m t h e d u m p i n m e t e r s
p a r t s p e r m i l l i o n
M e r c u r y
C a d m i u m
A r s e n i c
C y a n i d e
L e a d
Z i n c
C o p p e r
C h r o m i u m
A l u m i n i u m

10. Mavallipura’s Toxic Waters
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D i s t a n c e f r o m t h e d u m p i n m e t e r s
M a v a l l i p u r a W a t e r T e s t R e s u l t s -I n o r g a n i c
C o m p o u n d s
S u l p h a t e
N i t r a t e
C h l o r i d e C l
R F C h l o r i n e
F l u o r i d e

11. 0
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D e s i r a b l e
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I S
1 0 5 0 0 / 1 9 9 1
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A n a n d
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H a n u ma n t h .
O p e n W e l l
Distance fom the dump
Variance of Cadmium downstream from the
dump with distance
Mavallipura’s Toxic Waters

12. 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
MPN Count
Requirement
(Desirable
Limit) as per
IS 10500/1991
100
Leachate
400
Mavallipura
Tank
2500
Munisw ampa.
Borew ell
Distance from the dump
MPN Count downstream from the dump
MPN Coliform
Bacteria, 100
ml, Max
Fecal Coliform
Bacteria/100ml
E.Coli Bacteria
per 100 ml

13. In 2006 Dalit Sangharsh
Samithi (S) brought this
extensive and criminal
pollution of village lands
to the notice of the
Karnataka State Pollution
Control Board. The Board
initiated criminal
proceedings against
Bylappa, but did not
pursue the matter to
finality. As a result the
pollution continued and
BBMP got away scot free
for their criminal act of
polluting village lands.

14. Meanwhile, the Forest Department suddenly woke up to the fact that Bylappa’s
landfill was not on his land, but on a State Forest – Jarakabande Kaval. In an
attempt to recover forest land, they set on fire the waste that had accumulated for
four years now. It burned continuously for several days releasing toxic gases that
blew over the entire region of Bangalore North. Forest Department also initiated
criminal proceedings against Bylappa, but did not pursue it to finality. BBMP was
not sued!

15. Meanwhile, BBMP acquired the abutting gomaal land (grazing pasture) to establish
a scientific landfill. This project was contracted to M/s Ramky and construction
commenced in 2006. However, no permissions were taken from the Local
Panchayat, or from three airports in close proximity of the proposed landfill:
Yelahanka Air Force Base (5 kms.), Jakkur Airfield (7 kms.) and Bangalore
International Airport (19 kms.). Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules
mandated that airports should be at least 20 kms. from landfills – and that
presumes well managed landfills.

16. Mavallipura, Yelahanka, B’lore

17. Bangalore’s garbage threatens India’s Defense
Yelahanka Air Force – only 5 kms. away

18. Dhruv co-pilot dies in pre-aero show crash
Jangveer Singh
Tribune News Service
Bangalore, February 2, 2007
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) acrobatic team “Sarang” suffered a setback following a crash during rehearsals
for the forthcoming Aero India show resulting in the death of a co-pilot of a Dhruv advanced light helicopter
(ALH) today morning.
The crash, which occurred at 9.45 am, at the Yelahanka Air Force Station here, resulted in head injuries to
both the co-pilot Sq Ld Priye Sharma and the Captain Wg Cdr V Jetley. Both were taken to the IAF’s
Command hospital here where Sq Ld Priye Sharma (32) succumbed to his injuries two hours later. Wing
Commander Jetley is under observation for 72 hours.
Sq Ld Priye Sharma is married and hails from Patna in Bihar. An IAF spokesaman, Wg Cdr Raghunathan told TNS
that the accident occurred when the helicopter, being flown by both the pilots, lost height suddenly. He said no
other copter was involved in the accident and that the team was conducting a normal practice session prior to
the acrobatic display scheduled during the Aero India show, which starts on February 7.
The IAF spokesman said the cause of the crash could not be ascertained till now and added that a court of
inquiry had been formed to look into the accident. This is the first time that there has been a fatal crash of the
ALH during an acrobatic session.
Meanwhile, the crash has raised questions whether the Sarang team will put up a display at the Aero India
show. Sources said the team could be withdrawn from the aero show. However, the IAF spokesman said it was
too early to comment on this right now and that an appropriate decision would be taken in Delhi soon.
Sarang is the helicopter formation display team of the IAF, one of only three in the world, the others being two
British teams; the Blue Eagles of the Army Air Corps and the Black Cats of the Royal Navy. The team flies three
HAL Dhruvs. The team was formed in October 2003 and their first public performance was at the Asian
Aerospace Show, Singapore, 2004. Most of the Sarang pilots are former Siachen pilots who have been flying in
and around the high-altitude and arduous areas of Leh.

19. Much against the MSWM Rules, Ramky began receiving wastes and bean dee
filling it into a massive pit. This was not segregate wastes, but all kinds of
waste. Dumping was done with least regard for appropriate management and
treament. For BBMP, because the waste was out of sight, the problem was
solved. It sent more truckloads of waste to be dumped in Mavallipura.

20. Ramky’s landfill is in patent violation of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules 2000
and the Aircraft Act. It lacks a processing unit. There is no bioreactor to convert compostible
waste to energy. There is simply no effluent treatment plant to treat the leachates. Barring
in a small landing area, almost all the waste is dumped into dug up pits without any
precautions of constructing impermeable layers as prescribed in the MSW rules.
Contamination of water is happening all the time.

21. Within a few months, the incomplete landfill, which lacks all scientific layers of
protection, was filled with truck loads of waste. Mountains of waste is left open,
attracting hundreds of scavenging birds and dogs. This is seriously
contaminating air all around the dumpsite, making it unlivable for villages around.
This is criminal negligence on the part of Ramky and the BBMP

22. As the dumped waste decomposes, the
leachates formed are let out into ponds
that are completely unprotected. As
there is no effluent treatment plant,
these ponds ooze out the toxic waters
into wells, streams, tanks,
contaminating with deadly effect
everything it flows through.
Exposure to such toxicity has severely
increased the health risks of people
living in and around Mavallipura.
Cancer and kidney failures, which were
unknown to the local villagers, have
become commonplace. Young adults
and children are at particular risk.
Heart problems and pyrogenic
Meningitis have manifested in children.

23. The deadly concoction of the leachate is slowly permeating through the soil,
contaminated surface and groundwater bodies in downstream areas and the pollution
plume has reached Arkavathi from where Bangalore receives water to drink. The cycle of
contamination is tragically complete.

24. While disease causing pathogens such
as Bacteria and Viruses thrive on
garbage, mosquitoes, flies, rodents
and dogs act as vectors increasing the
risk to public health from these
garbage dumps.
Microscopic bacteria, virus and fungi
can grow on organic debris such as
food leftovers, diaper wastes,
household medical wastes and a
range of other organic material in the
waste.
Toxic gases and toxins in water and
soil are dangerous DNA mutants.
Mavallipura’s children are chronically
sick as a result.

25. Airborne Viral DiseasesAirborne Bacterial diseases
Chickenpox (Varicella) Whooping cough (Bordetella
pertussis)
Flu (Influenza) Meningitis (Neisseria species
Measles (Rubeola) Diphtheria (Corynebacterium
diphtheriae)
German measles (Rubella) Pneumonia (Mycoplasma
pneumoniae, Streptococcus
species)
Mumps (Mumps) Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium
tuberculosis)

26. Airborne Fungal Diseases
Acute allergic alveolitis
(various fungal and
actinomycete spores)
Fungal or actinomycete spores
from decomposing organic
matter (composts, grain
stores, hay, etc.)
Aspergillosis (Aspergillus
fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger)
Fungal spores inhaled from
decomposing organic matter

27. Hapless residents of Mavallipura are suffering
from Pyogenic meningitis, Cancer, Kidney Failure
and paediatric heart problem. Families are
running from pillar to post to save their dear
ones and have already run into debt. Some are
even selling their land to get medical help.
Who is responsible for this?
Will Bengaluru wake up to this?
Will there be justice for these communities?
Will BBMP own up and clean up this mess?

28. Simple Solution to a big problem-
Segregate at Source
Biodegradable
Hazardous &
Biomedical
Recyclable
Segregation helps recover recyclable material like plastics and metals.
Biodegradable waste can be composted to make manure. Only
hazardous waste needs to be disposed in a scientific land fill.