Banaswadi residents fear fires as garbage dumps burn on vacant railway land

Residents living near the Banaswadi Railway Station on Hutchins Road in Bengaluru are fearing for their safety as a vacant plot of land owned by the South Western Railway (SWR) has turned into an illegal dumping ground where miscreants frequently set garbage on fire. Despite a recent deadline set by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) for plot owners to clear waste, the recurring fires continue to pose a severe safety hazard to the surrounding neighbourhood.

Local residents are particularly concerned that the fires could spread to nearby residential buildings or damage a close-by electrical transformer. A damaged transformer could cause significant damage to electricity infrastructure and lead to widespread power disruptions in the area.

"This is the fourth time that miscreants have set garbage on fire here," said Vijayabhaskar Reddy, a local resident whose home is adjacent to the railway compound. Reddy expressed worry that if a fire is not doused immediately, it could easily spread to nearby homes and the nearby transformer, causing severe damage and inconvenience to residents.

Residents have blamed the South Western Railway, the Bengaluru North City Corporation (BNCC), and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) for failing to address the recurring issue. While BNCC and BSWML officials previously took measures to clear heaps of garbage from the vacant land, irresponsible citizens have continued to dump waste at the site.

Last week, the GBA set a one-month deadline for the owners of vacant plots to clear all types of waste from their properties. In light of this, residents have appealed to GBA officials to ensure that the SWR authorities keep the vacant land clean and secure.

Albert R, the president of the Cooke Town Nivasigala Sangha, condemned the SWR authorities for repeatedly constructing and then demolishing a compound wall around the vacant land. He noted that there is currently no vigil on the land to stop anti-social elements from trespassing and setting fires.

In response, the Assistant Divisional Engineer in charge of the Dharmapuri Sub-Division of the SWR stated that he had received information about the garbage dumping and fires. He clarified that the SWR does not generate the garbage, pointing the blame at residents who dump waste on the vacant land.

The SWR official confirmed that he has informed the Railway Police in Byappanahalli to keep a vigil on the vacant land and has lodged a complaint with GBA officials. He added that he plans to visit the site shortly, noting his own concerns regarding the safety of railway passengers if a fire occurs near the tracks.