Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has received conditional approval from the Karnataka state government to acquire 38 acres and 18 guntas of private land in Kundalahalli, Doddaballapura taluk.
This acquisition, part of a larger 134-acre integrated waste-processing facility, marks the first time BBMP is purchasing private land for such a purpose, aiming to process approximately 25% of the city’s daily waste output. Historically, BBMP has relied on government land for waste management facilities. However, increasing urbanisation, public opposition, and legal hurdles have limited available government land, prompting the civic body to explore private land options. The targeted 134-acre site comprises 46 acres owned by the Revenue Department, 27 acres of ‘kharab’ land (non-cultivable government land), 38 acres owned by Terra Firma Biotechnologies Limited, and 22 acres leased by the company from local farmers.
Terra Firma Biotechnologies had previously entered into an agreement with BBMP in 2008 to process 1,000 tonnes of waste daily. However, the plant ceased operations in 2015, five years before the contract’s conclusion, due to public protests and other operational challenges. Since then, the company has faced financial difficulties. The state government’s conditional approval under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act stipulates that Terra Firma must remove all old waste from its land and adjacent government land, repay Rs 6.81 crore (plus interest) previously loaned by BBMP, and assume responsibility for any environmental damage caused by earlier dumping activities. Additionally, the company’s requests for ₹60.99 crore in compensation for losses and to sell off existing equipment have been denied. The land deal is currently under litigation, requiring BBMP to inform the High Court before proceeding with any payment, which will be sourced from its funds.
A senior BBMP official highlighted the strategic importance of the site, noting its existing waste-processing infrastructure and proximity to government land, which facilitates integration. The official also mentioned that the landowner’s willingness to sell made the acquisition a viable option. The Doddaballapura facility is one of four new waste plant locations planned under a public-private partnership model promoted by the state government. BBMP continues to search for large land parcels in three other areas around Bengaluru to expand its waste management infrastructure.
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