Blackspots at Padmanabhanagar in Bengaluru raise health and hygiene concerns

Unofficial garbage dumps near Padmanabhanagar cause unbearable smell, health risks, and impact local businesses, prompting BBMP action.

In the vicinity of a garbage transfer station near Padmanabhanagar lie blackspots that are not only an eyesore, but also give off a strong, unbearable smell. These unofficial garbage dumps, located on both sides of a busy street, are almost overflowing with trash. Rats can be seen running through the piles of waste, right across from where the area’s garbage lorries are usually parked.

This has become a serious issue for people who live and work near the 18th Main Road. Residents have repeatedly complained to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) about the bad smell and health risks. “You can’t even walk here when it rains —the garbage flows onto the road,” said Sundaramma, a local worker. Another resident said she wears a mask every time she passes by because of the unbearable stench.

Local businesses such as fruit stalls, repair shops, and restaurants are also affected. “What smell is this?” asked Jayanth, a waiter at a nearby restaurant. “Customers look around before they eat. They wonder how they can eat in a place like this,” he said, pointing to the tall tables set up just a few feet away from the trash pile.

Laxman M., a resident, said the empty site, which is illegally being used for dumping, can be turned into a playground for children as there is no playground in the vicinity.

What makes it worse is that this garbage dump is right across from the parked garbage lorries — vehicles meant to remove waste— raising questions about the system’s effectiveness. The contractors park the vehicles here as it is a dedicated space for transferring waste from auto-tippers to compactors. The compactors transport the garbage to a landfill located at Mittaganahalli. 

A senior BBMP official told The Hindu that several areas near such transfer stations have turned into black spots and they would be cleared.