Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout residents complain of medical waste being dumped in empty sites in Bengaluru

A senior BDA official said this is not the first time NPKL is facing this problem. Last year, a similar problem was solved only after intervention by the authority.

A part of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) has turned into a dumping site with medical waste, plastic waste, debris and other waste being thrown in empty sites. The residents cite delay in implementation of basic infrastructure at the layout by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) as the cause for this problem.

According to the residents, the roads on Blocks 1, 2, 3 and 4 have not been asphalted by the BDA due to which the allottees have not commenced construction of homes. As the sites are empty, people living in the vicinity and some health facilities are dumping garbage in the area, they alleged. 

Umesh, a resident of 3rd Block,said the failure of the local panchayat to regularly collect waste from the homes is also a reason for this problem.

Earlier, vacant spaces in Visvesvaraya Layout were being misused. After BDA acted against the same and the layout saw improvement in civic infrastructure, this practice was stopped. Now, the problem has shifted to NPKL. 

M., Umesh further said that while the local panchayat has to install street lights near the layout, the BDA should start asphalting work to make the roads motorable facilitating the allottees to construct homes. 

A.S. Suryakiran of NPKL Open Forum said, “Dumping medical waste is a concern. Empty ointment tubes, gloves, bed sheets and other waste are dumped at the sites. People are also dumping construction debris and other waste. The BDA should act fast to clear these.” 

A senior BDA official said this is not the first time NPKL is facing this problem. Last year, a similar problem was solved only after intervention by the authority. “The BDA will take necessary action to remove the garbage,” the official said.