MCC orders clean-up at Lalithadripura dump

• Filth leaves MCC Commissioner stunned; joint clearance drive planned
• MDA asked to demarcate boundaries to fix jurisdiction and accountability   

Mysuru: A day after Star of Mysore published a report titled ‘Filth & Fire’ on hundreds of tonnes of waste being regularly dumped along Lalithadripura Road at the foot of Chamundi Hill, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner M.K. Savitha visited the spot this morning to assess the situation and explore action against those responsible.

Accompanied by MCC Superintending Engineer K.J. Sindhu and other officials, Savitha inspected the garbage accumulation points. Apart from residents, officials of Rammanahalli Town Panchayat and Alanahalli Gram Panchayat have also been regularly dumping waste here in truckloads, as they do not have dedicated waste segregation and treatment plants.

The Commissioner, who initially expected the clean-up to be a relatively small exercise that could be handled by MCC, was stunned by the scale of waste dumped across vacant sites and roadsides in the area.

The layout, developed by the Mysuru Development Authority (MDA), has hundreds of sites allotted to beneficiaries and buyers. However, as most of the sites remain vacant, with no houses or regular human activity, the area has turned into a stinky garbage garden.

Garbage has been piled up on both sides of the road, while continued dumping by the Rammanahalli and Alanahalli local bodies has turned the vicinity into an environmental hazard.

Boundary demarcation

After seeing the extent of the dumping, Savitha summoned officials of Rammanahalli and Alanahalli local bodies to the spot. However, both claimed that the area did not fall under their jurisdiction.

When informed that the MDA had already handed over the layout to the respective urban local body, the officials were unable to give a clear response.

The MCC Commissioner then directed MDA officials to visit the spot immediately and demarcate the jurisdictional boundaries to settle the dispute between the local authorities. MDA In-charge Commissioner B.R. Mahesh is expected to visit the layout this afternoon.

CCTV cameras

Orders have been issued to install CCTV cameras at the site to identify those illegally dumping waste and impose hefty penalties on offenders.

A joint one-time clean-up drive will also be taken up using MCC vehicles, with the participation of the MDA, Rammanahalli Town Panchayat and Alanahalli Gram Panchayat.

Savitha strictly instructed the Panchayat officials to stop open dumping. “If you do not have dedicated solid and organic waste treatment plants, at least collect and segregate wet, dry and plastic waste before handing it over to the MCC for scientific processing,” she directed.

Ahinda Javarappa, a resident, expressed strong concern over the condition of the layout.

“This layout was developed by the MDA and the area has previously faced security issues, including a high-profile gang rape incident, following which streetlights were installed. However, continued illegal dumping by local Panchayats has now turned the vicinity into an environmental hazard,” he said.

“MDA has allotted sites here and it must ensure that the layout is secured and free from illegal activities. MDA authorities must take direct responsibility, curb dumping and other unlawful activities, and protect the ecology,” he added.

MCC Environmental Engineers Lokeshwari, Sahana and Health Inspector Prabhakar accompanied the MCC Commissioner during inspection.