Bengaluru, February 18 Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar warned BJP MLAs and leaders on Wednesday that the ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) would be imposed and garbage would be dumped in front of their houses if they obstruct garbage disposal in the city.
"Please behave, or we will take strict action under the ESMA. We will dump garbage in front of the houses of those BJP MLAs and leaders who obstruct garbage disposal," said Shivakumar, who also holds the portfolio of Bengaluru city development, while speaking to reporters at the KPCC office here.
The Deputy CM's remarks came after allegations that some sitting and former BJP MLAs were behind the garbage crisis in the city.
There has been a massive protest by villagers living around waste disposal units, who claim they are facing numerous problems.
When asked about obstruction to garbage disposal in Mahadevapura, he said, "some people are blackmailing for funds while objecting to disposing waste in their constituency."
"Former minister Aravind Limbavali and Doddaballapura MLA Dheeraj Muniraju have blackmailed us. If they continue to object to disposing waste in their constituency, where will we dispose the garbage? We will have to send it to the homes of Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, BJP state president Vijayendra, or the BJP party office," he added.
Responding to a question on what the BJP MLAs were blackmailing him with, Shivakumar said, "We need to dispose of the garbage somewhere."
"We are continuing to dispose of the garbage in the same places as before. They are blackmailing us to get funds for their constituencies," he alleged.
When he was asked if they were opposing waste disposal due to accidents by garbage trucks, Shivakumar said, "Accidents should not happen, and the law will take its course in such cases."
"But the garbage disposal cannot be stopped. Presently, the waste is being disposed of in Anekal, Yashwanthpur, and Byatarayanapura," he said.
Shivakumar said that two more locations have been acquired for waste disposal.
"We have called for tenders. We will take a decision after addressing some legalities," he added.
Responding to a question on the Contractors' Association allegedly threatening to stop work due to "increased commission" in the Congress government, Shivakumar asked them to file a complaint.
"Let them first stop the work. Did the Yediyurappa government not tell the contractors not to take up work due to a lack of funds? Despite that, the BJP government issued contracts. They have called for tenders far exceeding the allocated amounts. For example, they have called for tenders worth Rs 30,000 to 40,000 crore, when the budget allocation was only Rs 10,000 crore. How can this be resolved now," he added.
When asked if the contractors were threatening to stop the work, Shivakumar said, "Those who want to stop the work, they can." The state government is paying money to the contractors as per the budget allocations.