Arise, Awake Citizens of Mluru-Help Stop Out-of-Town Flower Vendors Dirty our City
Mangaluru: The ongoing festival period is not just heightening the spirits of people; it is also increasing the size of the mounds of garbage already plaguing the city. Left-over flowers that found no takers during Ayudha Puja and Dasara, line the streets of popular city areas in the city, blocking traffic movement in some parts, painting a grim picture of the garbage collection and disposal system in the city post the festivities. The Mangaluru City Corporation has been nice to these street vendors who come from Bagalkote, Arsikere, Hassan and other parts of Karnataka, in allowing them to make business during various festival days- but in returns while they go back leave all the waste to be cleaned by the workers of MCC- and not only that take away the Swachh of Mangaluru.
Even though the painting on the wall talks about “Arise and Awake” to see that Mangaluru is clean of litter, put up by Ramakrishna Mission- but sadly, a huge pile of garbage is seen right below the wall painted message. (See photo) Even as the city celebrated Ayudha Pooja, the streets along Nehru Maidan Road, also adjacent to Town Hall, Market Road, and other busy shopping areas have been left with uncleared mountains garbage, including newspapers that are seen blowing on to the road. And the poor Pourakarmikas of Antony Waste Co next day morning will be seen sweeping and collecting the waste and the garbage clearance trucks at some places attempting to carry out the herculean task of ridding the roads of the rotting garbage. But my question is that, why MCC employees have to clean up the mess left behind by the street vendors? These street vendors are not even the citizens of Mangaluru. They don’t even pay City taxes. Then why is MCC not taking any action against these street vendors who leave behind a big mess, that Pourakarmikas have to clean up.
The Scenes during the Sale by the Street Flower Vendors….
Apart from these street flower vendors, even the street vendors who sell old clothes every Sunday, also leave behind unwanted clothes and every Monday morning the Pourakarmikas get stuck with the cleaning job. It’s about time that MCC looks into this situation, and warn these street vendors about their carelessness and ugliness, that is taking out the Swachh of Mangaluru- even though our City is judged as one of the Cleanest City in India. These Street vendors need to be blamed for the garbage-lined roads. Footpath vendors, mainly selling flowers, would dispose of the waste wherever they set up business.
This is a never-ending problem-When the vendors wind up for the day, they leave the garbage behind, spilling on the roads, inconveniencing the commuters and shopkeepers around the areas. Although Mangaluru is ranked as the third cleanest cities in the country, but there has been always garbage and filth scattered all over the city. The MCC officials have turned a blind eye towards the garbage created by these out of town street vendors. These vendors need to be warned and fined if they leave behind garbage after their business. Of our many civic problems, we view the problem of visible filth on our streets as a behaviour and attitude problem that can be solved in our lifetime (or rather, this month). This can be achieved without spending money or changing legislation or systems. It requires coming up with smart ideas to change people’s rooted cultural behaviour and attitudes. And making sure those ideas work. And to make this happen we need public support in keeping the city clean, and we also need more volunteers.
…..the Scenes of garbage left behind by these vendors after their sales
Last time Team Mangalorean had informed about the garbage being left behind by these street flower vendors during Ganesh Chaturthi festival, to the Swamy at Ramakrishna Mission, and he quickly arranged some of the Swachh Mangaluru Campaign volunteers to go to the spot where these vendors were doing business and made them clean their own mess. Even this time Team Mangalorean called Swami of the same problem happening again, and since the Mission had a pooja programme, he was unable to send any volunteers. However, Team Mangalorean approached Abdul Rehman -the Founder of Anti Pollution Drive Foundation, an NGO who cares for the clean and green of Mangaluru, and explained the garbage situation- and quickly he arranged his Team Members of APD Foundation, with garbage bags and hand gloves and they all rushed to the vendors spot, and made them pick up the waste created by them- even the APD volunteers lend a helping hand in this drive. If MCC can’t do it, then organizations like these have to take action-very simple. Thank You, APD Team!
It’s time to Arise and Awake- Let’s not be ignorant- let’s appreciate the work done by MCC Pourakarmikas, volunteers of (Swachh Bharath) Ramakrishna Mission and all others who are trying to keep Mangaluru clean. We need to learn the manners of cleanliness, we need to join hands with MCC and other voluntary associations who are striving to keep this beautiful coastal city clean. Let’s not dirty it by our ignorance and dirty manners. MCC needs to educate these street vendors about cleanliness, and if they are still ignorant, punish them with hefty fines. Period.
Also Read Related Articles:
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Swachh Mangaluru’ Abuse! Street Flower Vendors made to Clean Up their Own Mess
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Spoiling Mluru’s Swachhata! Aftermath of Sunday’s Old Clothes Sale by Out-of-Town Street Vendors
Out-of-Town Flower Vendors Leave a Mess- MCC Workers have to Clean It-But Why?