Bengaluru: Minister for Bengaluru Development K.J. George favoured waste to energy technology as a solution to the garbage crisis.

The minister met solid waste management experts and volunteers on Wednesday evening in light of the recent protests by citizen groups on Sunday demanding an end to the contractor mafia.

The volunteers called for an end to contractor raj and batted for implementation of a micro-plan where 750 houses are grouped and made the responsibility of a vehicle and a conservancy worker.

Contractors remain vehement in their opposition to this suggestion.

The minister said that biometric attendance will be implemented in the next two weeks and direct payment for pourakarmikas in a month. “We have already eliminated contractors from the system. We will only take their vehicles and a driver on rent,” the minister said.

He expressed doubts over compost-based waste processing centres. “Composting will take more than two months. There are protests by residents around the plants. Waste to energy is a better solution, as waste is incinerated and converted into power in less than 48 hours. Two firms have come forward to invest, with the government giving them land and drawing up power purchase agreements. This seems to be the best alternative,” he said.