The road from Mangaluru to Talapady, on the Kerala border, might have four lanes to ensure a smooth cruise. However, people have to bear with a terrible odour as the road is littered with piles of garbage at multiple points along National Highway 66.
What is worse is that one is forced to pass through clouds of smoke on the road early in the morning when these garbage piles are set on fire. Beginning from Ambika Cross till K.C. Road Junction, garbage is dumped on both sides of the NH at vantage points, including near the Uchchila rivulet bridge. Occupants in passing vehicles throw out garbage packed in polythene bags.
The stretch that falls in Mangaluru Assembly Constituency, is represented by U.T. Khader, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, and Someshwara Gram Panchayat, the largest GP in the State with 61 wards and a 24,000 population as of the 2011 Census.
“Though we are the largest panchayat, we get uniform grants from the government,” laments Rajesh Uchchil, president, GP. The panchayat lacks garbage trucks and dumping yards. It used to manage the situation in cooperation with Mangaluru City Corporation and Ullal City Municipal Council. Of late, these bodies have stopped cooperating, Mr. Uchchil told The Hindu.
The panchayat had identified three locations to dump and scientifically process garbage; but the proposal is in limbo owing to local opposition. “We are confident of convincing people and utilising ₹20 lakh grant for the garbage processing facility,” he said.
Someshwara GP should not be isolated for the garbage dumping menace on highway as people in any passing vehicle can dump garbage at any time. The panchayat had to resort to maintaining night vigils sometime ago to thwart such practices, Mr. Uchchil said. The panchayat also needs the help of the local MLA and the MP to address the issue, he said.
Mr. Khader told The Hindu that he was appalled by the garbage menace afflicting his constituency. “I have asked local panchayats to curb the practice and to install CCTV cameras to identify culprits. I will also call a meeting of all those concerned to find a permanent solution soon,” he said.
Other roads
It is not just shoulders of National Highway 66 that witness piling up of garbage, but shoulders of almost all roads in Mangaluru Assembly Constituency are defaced in a similar manner.
Shyamprasad Nayak, a businessman and cyclist, lamented that the Vitla-Mudipu-Thokkottu Road, an educational hub, is another road that faces this problem. Garbage is thrown at Kuttar Junction, Natekal Junction and other places.
It is the residents who should be blamed for their apathy towards society. There is no use in blaming politicians, Mr. Nayak complained.
