Shocking: Pollution board gives permit to closed units for plastic processing.

In a shocking incident, the Karnataka Pollution Control Board has given permission to Terra Firma Waste Process Unit, the irony is that, the same department has issued closure order terming it unfit.

With tonnes of plastic clogging drains and ending up in land, the Karnataka State Pollution Board decided to have waste processing units on board to process only  plastic, however the board had failed to look into  the aspect of  blacklisted or closed units as they failed to comply with solid waste management rules.

In 2016, the government had itself has issued a closure order to Terra Firma following a protest from surrounding villages for indiscriminate dumping of waste and smell emanating from the waste processing plant in Bengaluru outskirts.

"This unit was a failure. It did not comply with solid waste management rules. The waste had piled up and the leached was seeping. The angered the villagers as they could not bear with mosquito and bad smell emanating from garbage pile in the unit. Now, the pollution  board had enlisted the same unit  to recycle and  process plastic. We suspect there could be murky dealing between officials and the owners,"  said an activist.

R. Ganesh, M.D of the firm agreed that he is not capable of running firm now as he is under loss and has no clue why his firm was enlisted."I am having debts of 18 crores.  Crores worth bills from BBMP is pending.  I only have the plant and infrastructure. If  BBMP wants to use they can but they will only have to invest as I do not have funds,"  he said.

Lakshman Chairperson, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board said that the City has over lakh tonnes of plastic waste and the processing is an issue."I did not know about the issue of the firm not being capable. I will ask my officers to check once and visit the place. If we feel that they are not capable, we will knock them out from out list," he said.

• Plastic
• KSPCB
• Terra Firma
• Closed units
• Permit