Mandur, Karnataka:
'There is an old familiar ring to the promises being given to the people of Mandur who have been protesting against the dumping of Bangalore's garbage in their backyard.
In 2012, there was a similar issue, where villagers protested against the dumping of garbage and were promised a speedy solution. But the villagers complain about the persistent problem of the smell, mosquitoes and water pollution they face and the government's false promises to change that.
The mayor of Bangalore, BS Sathyanarayana, has promised the people that the dumping of the garbage will stop in Mandur in a matter of months but the villagers protest that this is a promise that has been made many times before. Despite the protests, the mayor continues to insist insisting that this time the promise will be kept.
"I request the Mandur villagers, just please cooperate with us, we are going to start four projects in surrounding Bangalore. After the four projects, there will be no dumping of garbage. The government is changed now. Before, previous government gave that promise for that land. Now it is a fresh government," said Mr Sathyanarayana.
In addition to four garbage-to-energy projects that have been sanctioned, the Corporation is asking the government for a total of 400 acres for dumping.
A meeting on the Mandur issue with corporation officials and representatives from Mandur was held at the office of the Karnataka UPA Lokayukta who had earlier visited the dumpsite.
One of Mandur's representatives, Gopal Rao, came out of the meeting saying it was a failure. He told NDTV, "BBMP Commissioner said everything, showed the documents, conducting so many plants - but everything is lies."
Decisions are taken at the Bangalore City Corporation office about what happens to the city's garbage. There are fresh promises being made to the people of Mandur - where much of it is dumped - that it will stop in a few months. But the stench of the unsegregated garbage does not reach this building - so the sense of urgency needs to come from elsewhere.