Minister supports protest against solid waste management plant

Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, who represents Belagavi Rural Constituency in the Assembly, said that she supports the struggle of the residents of some villages against a proposed solid waste management unit in Turmuri village.

She was addressing a delegation of residents of Turmuri, Bachi, Konewadi, Uchagaon, Sulga, Gojaga, Mannur, Kallehola, Ambewadi and surrounding areas that met her at her residence in Belagavi on Sunday.

She said that their concerns are genuine and that she is opposed to the idea of dumping garbage generated in the city in nearby villages.

“I know that you have been opposing the unit since 2006. I understand your problems and I realise that it is my duty to respond to it. I am with you in opposing the unit. If you protest against it, I will join it. If you are to take the garbage thrown in your village back to the houses of the Belagavi Mayor, other elected representatives and officers, I will come with you,” she said.

Video clips of her making this speech in Marathi were widely shared on social media.

“I will soon hold a meeting of the Deputy Commissioner and the Belagavi city Corporation Commissioner. I will also raise my voice at the government level. However, it seems other elected representatives are not supporting this agitation. That is why, I request you to go to Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar, MLAs Abhay Patil and Asif Raju Seth and other leaders with your request,” she said.

She then made a video call to Urban Development Minister Byrati Basavaraj and told him to cancel the project. He promised to consider their demand positively.