Bengaluru, 19 Feb

Garbage collection resumed in parts of Bengaluru on Thursday as Bellahalli residents ended their protests over promises which they said were unfulfilled for nearly two years.

Residents of Bellahalli and Mittaganahalli, home to nearly 600 families, had blocked garbage trucks from entering the 30-acre Bellahalli landfill for two days, which receives around 1,500 tonnes of waste daily from Bengaluru. The State government on Wednesday announced a massive Rs 550 crore package to cleanup the area amid a massive political slugfest.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had threatened to dump waste in front of BJP MLA’s homes as the Opposition claimed that Congress had not allocated enough funds for waste management.

Congress MLA PM Narendraswamy on Thursday backed Shivakumar's statement, clarifying that waste management in Bengaluru is not an individual decision but a collective responsibility under the Greater Bengaluru Development Authority(GBA).

"...Where we are to dump? One MLA belongs to BJP, if he's taking in a different tone, is he working under the constitution or what...It is not anybody's individual decision to clean Bengaluru. That is the decision of the GBA. If the non-cooperation of the MLA happens, we know how to tackle it."

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai said Shivakumar should focus on resolving issues instead of always blaming the BJP for everything.

“This has also happened before during the BJP's tenure, but we did not throw garbage in front of Congress's MLA or its party office,” he added.