Mysuru: Intensifying their protest against Excel Solid Waste Management Plant or Sewage Farm at Vidyaranyapuram, over 500 residents of Vidyaranyapuram, J.P. Nagar, Kanakagiri, Gundu Rao Nagar, Vishveshwaranagar and surrounding areas, led by former Minister S.A. Ramdas, began indefinite strike this morning.

As part of the protest, over 15 trucks transporting garbage to the Treatment Plant were stopped as early as 5 am today. Almost all the protesters were wearing masks to avoid stench. Tight Police security was provided by K.R. Police led by Assistant Commissioner Dharmappa and four Inspectors.

As the protests began, officials from the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) led by Health Officer Nagaraj objected to the entry of vehicles inside the treatment plant and he ordered the gates of the plant to be closed.

A verbal duel broke out between the protesters and the MCC officers who were blocking the way. The protesters wanted to plant saplings inside the plant. The air was, however, cleared after the intervention of MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha. Later, the protesters planted a couple of saplings inside the compound.

Shouting slogans “Expel Excel”, the protesters, including schoolchildren, demanded a permanent solution the problem. Unbearable stink emanating from the solid waste management plant is proving to be a health hazard and the residents have been suffering from different ailments like nausea, headache and asthma. They said that they have not even opened windows of their houses from many days due to foul smell.

Addressing the gathering, Ramdas said that the Sewage Farm can process 160 tonnes of solid waste per day while the daily generation of the garbage is around 450 tonnes. The excess garbage accumulated at the landfill is estimated at 14 lakh tonne and this is the cause for foul.

“When the BJP government was in power in the State, Rs. 29 crore was spent to tackle the garbage challenge alone. Nine solid waste management units were established in various zones of MCC for decentralising the process and necessary vehicles were procured,” he said.

A limit was placed on receiving of garbage at the Sewage Farm at 160 tonne per day. Now, eight out of the nine decentralised centres have stopped functioning. Animal waste, biomedical waste and chemical waste, which have to be separately processed, are mixed with the garbage and dumped into the Sewage Farm illegally, he said.

Former Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad said that he had come up with a permanent solution to the problem when he was a Minister and even had assured financial assistance to the MCC. “But some vested interests and irresponsible elected representatives told the MCC officers not to pay heed to my suggestions and all the plans went for a toss,” he alleged.

Dismissing political gain out of the protests, Prasad said that unlike Congress the BJP was not taking political mileage by organising the protest.

For the record, the Excel Treatment Plant was set up Under JnNURM project in 1996. Solid waste is treated here daily to produce compost.

Former Mysuru-Chamarajanagar District Cooperative Bank Chairperson C. Basavegowda, former MLC D. Madegowda, Hosa Mutt Seer Chidananda Swamiji, Kuderu Mutt Seer Gurushantha Swamiji, Neelakanteshwara Mutt Seer Siddalinga Swamy, Japadakatti Mutt Seer Mummadi Chandrashekar Swamiji and Basaveshwara Mutt Seer Shankara Devara Swamiji, BJP leader Kapu Siddalinga Swamy, Corporators B.V. Manjunath, former Dy. Mayor Vanitha Prasanna, Mysore Travel Association President B.S. Prashanth and others were present.

Students of JSS Public School, J.P. Nagar, Maharshi Public School, Vishveshwaranagar, DAV School and JSS College participated.