The Karnataka government has announced the appointment of IAS officer, Darpan Jain as special commissioner in charge of solid waste management in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike. The decision was taken to counter the garbage mess the city is witnessing. Jain’s services have been put at the disposal of the Urban Development Department in the newly created post of Special Commissioner (solid waste management) in the BBMP. He will also hold concurrent charge as the Managing Director of the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC).

The garbage disposal problem in Bangalore re-emerged two weeks ago, after residents of the Mandur village on the outskirts of the city refused to allow garbage contractors into the village to dump waste generated in Bangalore in landfills located around the village. A nearly two week stand-off with the residents of the Mandur village ended last week with the protesting residents accepting chief minister, Siddaramaiah’s personal assurance to end garbage dumping in the village in five months time.