Waste Filled Bags Decor the NH 75 stretch from Adyar to Farangipete

Waste Filled Bags Decor the NH 75 stretch from Adyar to Farangipete

Mangaluru: If you travel on National Highway 75 from Mangaluru towards Bantwal/Bengaluru, you will notice hundreds of black plastic bags filled with garbage between Adyar and Farangipete. If you still wonder who would do such a job of dumping all these bags along this stretch of road- the explanation for this would be a NGO with its members and local volunteers had collected all the garbage lying on this stretch of NH, and left the waste filled bags along the side of the road- which are still there unattended by any concerned authorities to haul them away.

If you had seen this NH stretch a few weeks ago, it was filled with filth and all kinds of waste. Local residents of the area were seen 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. I had done an article named “NH 75 Stretch between Farangipete and Bantwal is Haven of Garbage” which was published on our website on 30 October 2016. (the link of the article is attached below)

BEFORE CLEAN UP……

As the population had increased in this area, the quantity of waste also doubled but the Gram Panchayat has failed to find a place to dump garbage. Since they don’t have a regular pick-up of garbage, like Mangaluru city, the garbage is thrown on the road and at other places to rot. 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.

One of the residents of the area 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. “

…….. AFTER CLEAN UP

A member of the Gram Panchayat had earlier said, ” Various departments including the PWD and Environmental department have been sending notice to 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 have 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”.

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)

But a few Good Samaritans from an NGO in DK, with the help of few local volunteers, had taken an initiative to clean up all the mess on this NH. Although they did a good job, but on the other hand, they forgot to inform the concerned authorities to haul away the hundreds of garbage filled bags, that are still lying on both sides of the National Highway 75 between Adyar and Farangipet, and beyond. A few of these waste filled garbage bags have been ripped open by the stray dogs and cows, creating chaos around the area. Even after a photo appeared in an English daily on 25 January about the scene of these plastic bags unattended, no one has taken any action until this day. Too bad!

But on the other hand, how many times minister Ramanath Rai traveles on this National Highway 75 on his way to his hometown, Bantwal? How many times minister UT Khader and other politicians might 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 address about this garbage menace? Almost all the elected representatives travel the same road from Bangalore to Mangaluru and other destinations, 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.

Now that members of an NGO and volunteers have done a great job, at least cleaning the scattered waste which was there for a long long time, and filled them in these black garbage bags, but left to rot in the sun on this stretch of NH 75, 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 take act fast and do the needful.

In conclusion, 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 an 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.

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NH 75 Stretch between Farangipete and Bantwal is Haven of Garbage