Hundreds of residents in Bengaluru’s Bellahalli and surrounding areas have reported breathing difficulties, foul smells and thick smoke linked to alleged illegal garbage burning near Kannur Lake and the Mittaganahalli landfill. A complaint filed with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has sought an urgent night-time inspection and action against those responsible.
The grievance, filed on October 9 through the Karnataka government’s Praja Seve portal, alleges that garbage and toxic waste are being burnt in the open near the landfill area, behind residential complexes including Sobha Dream Gardens. According to the complaint, the burning takes place mainly at night and during the early morning hours, allowing smoke to spread across nearby apartment communities.
Residents have approached the KSPCB after earlier efforts to secure action from civic and political authorities did not resolve the issue. Kush Agrawal, who filed the complaint, said open garbage burning in and around the Mittaganahalli landfill had been common for a long time.
“We have approached various authorities, including GBA, KSPCB, and also the area MLA. However, there has been no resolution so far,” Agrawal said.
The affected area includes a cluster of apartment complexes occupied by families, elderly residents and children. Residents have raised concerns about prolonged exposure to smoke and the possible health effects of breathing polluted air over an extended period.
“We are worried about health concerns. Elderly and children are being forced to inhale the foul smell and toxic smoke for a long time. There is bound to be some long-term health impact of this exposure,” a resident of one of the apartment complexes said.
The complaint has asked the KSPCB’s Bengaluru North regional office to conduct an inspection at night, when the alleged burning is reported to occur. Residents want officials to identify the private plots or scrap yards where the waste is allegedly being burnt and determine who is responsible.
They have also sought criminal action by the pollution control board against offenders for alleged violations of air-pollution control laws. The complaint places the issue within a wider civic challenge around waste handling near fast-growing residential areas, where landfill operations, private plots and apartment developments exist in close proximity.
The KSPCB’s proposed inspection will be important in establishing the source of the smoke, the nature of the material being burnt and whether air-pollution regulations have been breached. The residents’ complaint also seeks action from the authorities that have been approached over the alleged burning near Kannur Lake and the Mittaganahalli landfill.
