Bengaluru Bellahalli Residents Struggle as Garbage Fires Pollute Air
A toxic haze has engulfed Bellahalli and its neighbouring areas as illegal garbage burning continues unchecked, leaving residents battling severe air pollution. Despite repeated complaints to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and law enforcement, the practice persists, with thick plumes of smoke billowing from private waste management units. Residents, particularly those from nearby apartments, have voiced their anger over the worsening air quality, which is causing health hazards, especially for children and the elderly. The situation has further deteriorated with reports that ragpickers and waste handlers set fire to mixed garbage in the early hours of the morning, allowing it to burn unchecked.
The issue has been formally raised by the Kannur Apartments Federation, which wrote to the Additional Commissioner of Police, Sampigehalli Sub-Division, demanding action against landowners enabling waste burning. Meanwhile, Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited also sought police intervention against those obstructing BBMP marshals from preventing the fires. However, despite these complaints, little has changed on the ground. The fires continue, contributing to hazardous air pollution levels and making everyday life difficult for residents. Frustration has been mounting, particularly as Bellahalli lies within a five-kilometre radius of significant city landmarks, including the recently concluded Aero India show, where the pollution levels were already a concern.
Civic Failures and the Need for Urgent Action
The ongoing crisis underscores deeper governance and civic management failures. Bengaluru’s waste disposal system has long been plagued by inefficiencies, with illegal dumping and burning emerging as common practices. While BBMP marshals and fire officials have intervened to extinguish the fires in some instances, their limited jurisdiction over private land has hampered enforcement. The BBMP Chief Marshal admitted that the burning sites do not fall under municipal authority, complicating direct intervention. This highlights a critical gap in urban governance—when waste mismanagement occurs on private land, it remains unclear who bears responsibility for enforcement and resolution.
Adding to residents’ grievances is the lack of continuous monitoring. Many argue that even if authorities take action once, the fires reignite the next day, suggesting a lack of stringent measures to curb the practice. The affected communities have called for greater police surveillance, stricter penalties, and permanent waste disposal solutions to prevent further deterioration of air quality. Experts argue that the BBMP, in coordination with law enforcement and environmental agencies, must establish stricter regulations and accountability mechanisms to address this persistent issue.
Environmental and Sustainability Concerns
The burning of mixed waste, including plastics, hazardous materials, and organic refuse, releases toxic pollutants into the air, severely impacting Bengaluru’s environmental sustainability goals. The unchecked release of particulate matter and harmful chemicals exacerbates respiratory illnesses and contributes to the city’s deteriorating air quality index. Bengaluru, already struggling with rising vehicular emissions, cannot afford additional pollutants from preventable waste fires. With the city pushing for sustainable urban solutions, including better solid waste management and air quality monitoring, incidents like these reflect a stark gap between policy and implementation.
To align with its sustainability objectives, Bengaluru must adopt stricter waste segregation policies and promote decentralised waste processing units that discourage open burning. The absence of comprehensive waste management solutions not only affects Bellahalli residents but also has broader implications for the city’s environmental and public health standards. As the civic authorities grapple with growing urbanisation challenges, addressing illegal waste disposal must become a priority to ensure a cleaner and healthier living environment for all.
The Road Ahead: A Call for Systemic Change
Bellahalli’s garbage fire crisis is a grim reminder of Bengaluru’s larger urban management challenges. While residents continue to suffer from toxic air, the lack of decisive action from authorities raises concerns about the city’s ability to enforce environmental regulations effectively. The need for a multi-agency response—integrating municipal authorities, law enforcement, environmental regulators, and local communities—is imperative to address this growing issue. Unless proactive measures are taken, Bengaluru risks slipping further into an environmental and civic crisis that will be difficult to reverse. Residents are now demanding accountability and permanent solutions, urging authorities to ensure that Bengaluru’s future is not left up in smoke.
