HYDERABAD: The Government might be patting itself for convincing Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS) to set up its centre in the city but it could turn out to be a headache for the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad.

Jawaharnagar, the site given to BITS, is also home for the city's solid waste with the MCH unloading close to 2,400 tonnes a day in the 339-acre rocky terrain. Garbage from Kapra, Malkajgiri, Alwal municipalities and Secunderabad Cantonment Board, too, is dumped here.

Twin headache

Along with BITS, the Government is also said to have agreed to take up housing for Secretariat employees there.

Senior MCH officials, however, claim ignorance as they are not sure about the location of the projects.

If there is uneasiness in the MCH, it is because Jawaharnagar was obtained with much difficulty as the city began spreading in all directions and none wanted a dump nearby. Yousufguda, Gandhamguda and Autonagar dump yards were `closed' on grounds of pollution.

Residents' fears

Jawaharnagar, too, is having its problems with nearby residents protesting against garbage trucks moving in their areas.

Officials have been able to stifle such protests by maintaining the dump in a more "orderly" way and covering up trucks.

Sanitary landfill

A scientific sanitary landfill over a 50-acre stretch was also proposed.

However, if garbage dumping is stopped at Jawaharnagar, where will the waste go?

Adibatla got out of purview due to the international airport while the plea for identifying land for four new garbage sites within a 60-80 km radius met a cold response.

Other than a site in Nalgonda, no surrounding district administration is willing to surrender its land, especially considering the real estate boom and unwillingness to have garbage in their backyard.

Solid waste management

"Solid waste management has to be taken into account whenever a development plan is made for the city.

Ideally dumpsites should be localised and earmarked for new townships saving the trouble of transporting garbage to long distances," says an official.

Transport costs could shoot up if new dumps are far.

MCH Commissioner Sanjay Jaju is positive that there won't be any issues if the dumps are maintained well.

"When cities abroad can have dumps beside airports, we can also have one not too far away, provided it is maintained well," he affirms.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail