Illegal Bangladeshi migrants behind dumping of garbage and and fire at Varthur lake: Activist

With latest incident of fire in  Varthur lake bed area, the activist claim that there are lot of illegal Bangladeshi migrants who have put tents and are engaged in scrap and waste collection profession. The activist say these workers burn the garbage to extract copper from cable wires.

NR Ramesh RTI activist who along with a freelance photo journalist  Sudhir Shetty documented illegal Bangladeshi migrants staying at Bagalur, Kundalahalli Gate,  Varthur and Bellandur extension area said, the fire near lakes is caused by the waste dumped by these illegal migrants who work as rag pickers.

The workers are trafficked into India from Bangladeshi and the agents use West Bengal route, one they enter India, the  workers are packed into trains and reach Bangalore. The workers are poor and may not be threat but same route can be taken by anti social elements and they pose a risk for internal security.

"I also have complained police and also chief election commissioner as voter ID and adhaar cards are given to these migrants. The local politicians do not care about  the security issues, for them only extra votes matters to win elections and these poor migrants can be easily brought for money," said N R Ramesh and added that over 40,000 illegal Bangladesh migrants are residing Bengaluru.

The issue of illegal Bangladesh migrants had become a subject of debate three years ago when Sudhir Shetty  activist and a freelance photo journalist had done photo exhibition using the same theme.

 "I was in Delhi  earlier and there Illegal Bangladeshi migrant issue. When I saw few of the rag pickers in Varthur and Bellandur and extension area of Bengaluru I easily came to know that they were Bangladesh migrants. Their food, language and style differs from Indian and many of them have accepted to have crossed borders. One of the migrant said he had paid only  Rs 3,000 to agent to cross the boundary. I had complained authorities in 2014, had they become serious and verified, the  lake bed in Varthur and Bellandur would have been free from garbage and fire,"  he said.

The workers are given tricycles and collect waste, the plastic, copper, and other  materials are extracted from waste and remaining is dumped in lake bed. Piled up waste caught fire the other day.

Following the complaint of fire in lake bed, the BBMP on Thursday evicted dwellers on the lake bed. "We have cleared 70 per cent of people from lake bed in Varthur and will clear remaining in a day. During the eviction  process we have come across the information about illegal Bangladesh migrants,"  said  Vasanthi, Joint Commissioner, Mahadevpura Zone.

She also said, the scrap dealers, workers and rag pickers had turned the lake bed into dump yard and they are responsible for the fire. BBMP  has warned them and instructed to give waste to dealers and not to dump on the road side or near lakes.

• Illegal Bangladesi
• Bengaluru
• Varthur
• Lake
• Fire
• Garbage