Goel gives hoteliers a dose of responsibility

Taking a strong stand on the garbage problem in the city, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner Rajneesh Goel on Thursday warned the hotel owners in the city to either set up biofuel units and dispose the garbage properly or get ready to bring the shutters down.

Speaking at the interaction programme organised by BBMP along with Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board (KSBDB) and city hoteliers, Goel said that city generates about 4,000 tonnes of garbage daily, and out of that 1,500 tonnes is generated by hotels and other bulk generators.

Goel warned the hoteliers that if they did not manage their waste, BBMP might have to take a tough call to close the hotels. “The hotel owners should dispose the waste by themselves. Over 34% waste segregation is taking place in city, and the board (KSBDB) has come forward to provide knowledge on various methods to convert waste to energy. The hotel owners should implement the idea, and take the issue seriously. If you do not implement (the rules), then BBMP has to close down the hotel,” he said.

He also said that even though hoteliers and mall owners were making huge profit, they were reluctant to manage the waste.

“The KSBDB has the technology and hoteliers should implement it which is not expensive and it will pay back within two years,” he said.

KSBDB executive chairman YB Ramakrishna said that both health and environment will be affected by the unscientific disposal of garbage.

“With 4,000 tonnes of garbage generated every day, it can be converted into bio gas, electricity and manure. There are around 7000 hotels in the city which produce 50 kg to 2 tonnes of waste. This can be converted into biogas and power. The debris and glass and waste inerts will be about 40 tonnes which can be dumped in landfills,” he said.

Addressing the hotel owners, mayor D Venkatesh Murthy said that by segregating and managing the garbage, they should become models for other states. Public, apartment owners and hotel owners should use the technology and work to make the city garbage-free.