Though he is one of the most important citizen of Bengaluru, the Mayor, is no different from any of us. B S Satyanarayana seems to be working on many things at a time – garbage, potholes and others. Citizen Matters caught up with him to know his views – particularly on garbage.

Mayor Satyanarayana inspecting the cleaning and roadwork near K R Market on Sunday Pic: BBMP PRO

What do think the term of the mayor should be? Do you agree with the proposal for a five- year term directly elected mayor? Do you need more powers to do your job better?

Even one year is sufficient if one wants to do the job. If one does not want to, even five years are not sufficient. I am aware that the government wants to increase the tenure, but that is for the government to decide.

What have you done in your ward, as a corporator?

I have done a lotand that is why I was the corporator for more three terms. Well, I will take a pat on the back for installing a shredder machine, to convert one ton of garbage to manure. This manure is taken by farmers from Magadi and Bidadi.

The machine costs not more than Rs 5 lakh. I have installed two such machines in Thyagarajanagar and N R Colony, Basavanagudi. I would prefer to install such machines, so that waste in the ward is reduced.

What do you expect to achieve by the end of your term (just six months to go). Do you think you can find solutions to some key issues- Eg: KR Market’s garbage issue?

My aim is to at least reduce the garbage in the city. Within two months, I will show you all results. Please wait till January. I do not want to discuss my steps. Results will speak for itself.

What do you have to say of the garbage management in city?

Bangalore generates around 4500 tons of waste everyday. Most of the waste is sent to landfill sites like Mavallipura and Mandur. The areas around these landfill sites are getting polluted, groundwater is contaminated and crops are also contaminated. Thus door to door garbage collection and management of waste wardwise is important. Converting garbage into manure or using it in any other way is being worked out.

What about Spurthy Technologies? What new thing are they working on? Will they be allowed to set up machines and where?

A demonstration was given in Dasarahalli ward. During that I noticed that people had to mount a ladder to put all the waste into the machine. This is not apt. So they were advised to have some modifications like a belt or anything else. So after they meet our requirements with their modifications, permission could be given to set up machines.

Let the company first change as per our requirement, then we will give them permission to set up the machines.

In most places in Bangalore, people complain that even though the residents segregate waste, it is mixed with the dry waste by the collectors, so people do not really segregate waste. How do you intend to solve this problem?

Yes, I am aware of this issue. We are still struggling to make people aware that they should segregate waste and hand it over separately to the pourakarmikas. They should also try to manage their own waste, like in apartments and other residential units.

How can you educate the grassroots level garbage collectors and pourakarmikas on how waste should be managed? How can you incentivise them to segregate/ take segregated waste?

Training is not needed for people to sweep. The garbage collectors have been told how to collect and segregate garbage.

According to the KMC Act, there should not be blackspots. Why are the offenders who dump at the blackspots not dealt with strictly?

I am aware that there are blackspots and it is the duty of the corporators to ensure that the wards are clean and free of garbage. They should ensure that there are no black spots. Clearing them totally will take some time, but will happen.

Why are there no dustbins in most places of Bangalore? Where have they all gone?

All the dustbins were removed and then door-to-door collection of garbage was started. We (corporation) want to ensure that door-to-door collection of waste is effective. Dustbins are not needed if the waste is well-managed.

How successful is the Kasamukta project?

I think it is around 60% successful. Segregation of waste by people is taking some time. Pourakarmikas have been trained to manage garbage. Bangalore doesn’t have enough place to manage waste, which is why we are thinking of other alternatives like using machines to convert waste.

What happened to the plan of fitting garbage lorries with GPS?

The garbage lorries have GPS and they are working.

How do you plan to implement fine for littering, non-segregation and others?

As per High Court directions, we have been authorised to collect Rs 500 fine for those littering. But we decided to give people some time. Now we cannot wait. So plans are being chalked out on how we will impose fine on those littering on road side. Door-to-door fining is presently ongoing and the fine amount is not more than Rs 100-200.

Do you segregate waste in your house? What do you do with the waste?

Yes I do, and as a Mayor I should also. I hand over the segregated waste to garbage auto.

Earlier, you used to come to the corporation by your scooter, now you commute by car. So are you still aware of the bad roads and have you thought of anything to improve them?

60% of the potholes in Bangalore’s roads have been filled. We have bought machines to fill them, which are presently working in Bangalore east. Next week, they will be working in Peenya. If people have any complaints of bad roads and potholes, please call me up directly and inform me of the area and road. I will get it fixed. People can reach me at 080-22975501 or 9341220836.

The questions by our readers which were specific in nature have been forwarded to the Mayor’s grievance redressal email, for specific action.

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