NH 75 Stretch between Farangipete and Bantwal is Haven of Garbage
Mangaluru: How many times has Forest, Ecology and Environment minister Ramanath Rai traveled on National Highway 75 on way to his hometown, Bantwal? While talking about safety hazards and health hazards, how many times might minister UT Khader have taken this road? Also, senior congress leader Janardhan Poojary takes this NH 75 every single day to and fro for his commute between Bantwal (his residence) and Mangaluru- while Poojary holds various press meets pertaining to political issues, why can’t he hold a press meet highlighting the garbage menace? Almost all the elected representative’s travel in the same road from Bangalore to Mangaluru and other destinations, including the District Minister-in-charge, Higher officers and other dignitaries but nobody has ever tried to resolve the basic problem. Seems all these politicians have turned a blind eye to this pathetic condition of garbage filled NH 75.
As the population has increased, the quantity of waste has also doubled but the Gram Panchayat has failed to find a place to dump the garbage. This stretch of highway gives an unusual view of garbage scattered all over the place. The road, which is a state highway shows the irresponsibility of representatives. While I was on my way to Thumbay for news coverage on the inauguration of ‘Bantwalada Buntara Bhavana” I was surprised to see residents dumping garbage along the roadside, and stray cows, dogs, goats, including crows and birds feast on this garbage. There is also a big garbage dump yard right behind the Farangipete Fish Market, which gives scope for mosquito breeding resulting in diseases like Malaria and Dengue.
One of the villager, Sheshappa Poojary of Farangipet speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “We have given various complaints to our elected gram panchayat representatives, who had promised to rectify this garbage menace, but till date no development has been taken. The only solution at present is to acquire the vacant land somewhere in this area and provide a place for waste disposal. The Gram Panchayat should reserve a part of its funds to manage waste disposal and scientific management of waste treatment can be done if a proper land is acquired. But no one is taking any interest, and so we have no other option other than throwing the garbage along the roadside.”
A member of the Gram Panchayat also speaking said, “Various departments including the PWD and Environmental department have been sending notices to the Gram Panchayat but nobody is finding a solution for it, the panchayat members complain. This problem has been persisting from the past so many years and a committee has been set up to overcome this problem which would be sending a report to the deputy commissioner again soon. The problem can be solved only if the government representatives take up the responsibility and people also should unite. Our district minister in charge Ramanath who is a native of Bantwal is least bothered about this issue, it seems like”.
And today being a big day in the Thumbay area where VIPs, ministers, cine stars and others had traveled on this stretch of road for the mega Bunts’ programme – but sadly no one took the initiative of cleaning the garbage prior to their arrival. This ugly scene on the highway surely did send a bad image of the district to all these visitors from other states and towns. Even the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and many other prominent citizens of India who traveled through this stretch of highway scattered with garbage to attend the Bunts’ event, brought a bad impression on DK district.
Despite the hype around the cleanliness drive after Prime Minister’s clarion call for Swaccha Bharath Abhiyan, filth is still visible on this national highway in Dakshina Kannada district. With the dumping of garbage on both sides of the national highway at various locations, many a time people using the road are put to inconvenience by the stench that emanates from the garbage dumped indiscriminately. In spite of awareness on why the use of plastic should be avoided, people continue to use plastics. It forms a major chunk of the garbage dumped along the national highway. Even people have been dumping garbage from a bridge into the running river below, in spite of a sign posted nearby not to dump garbage (see picture in report)
Yes, we agree that disposal of garbage continues to be a challenge faced by the civic authorities. Officials say that they alone can not keep the city clean. A change in attitude among people towards the issue of cleanliness is need of the hour. In spite of many awareness programmes on ‘Swachh Bharath’ people have the habit of dumping garbage on the streets and pavements. Adding to this, construction debris is also dumped. Also looking at the outgrown grass and other vegetation beside the highway it seems like Swachh Bharath Abhiyan is not clearing the garbage alone. At a few places in the city, people have recklessly thrown garbage on the drain along the roads. As a result, the drain is clogged and garbage is strewn around.
It’s time that our elected state representatives take quick action on this garbage menace on NH 75, and start cleaning up soon before the garbage piles up in heaps. I hope this report will awaken some of our “Beloved?” leaders, including ministers Ramanath Rai, UT Khader, congress leader Janardhan Poojary, and the rest to act fast and do the needful. Even the influential people from the Bunt Community should also come forward and find a solution to this over growing garbage menace. Thank You!