District Minister S.T. Somashekar directs officials to follow Bengaluru model

Mysore/Mysuru: Mysuru District Minister S.T. Somashekar claimed that efforts were on to ensure that the city was clean on all 365 days. He also warned of stern action against those dumping debris and garbage on the Outer Ring Road. 

Speaking to reporters on Sunday after inspecting the Outer Ring Road that has become a favourite place for garbage and construction debris dumping, the Minister said that it will be inevitable to punish those who dump waste along the Ring Road. The Minister inspected the Ring Road along the Devegowda Circle, Visvesvaraya Technological University, Alanahalli Layout Circle, J.P. Nagar Ring Road and H.D. Kote Road. 

During inspection, the Minister and a team of elected representatives and officials were witness to heaps of garbage including animal and poultry waste from slaughter houses discarded indiscriminately along the Ring Road. 

The road emanated horrible stench and the Minister was tough in his words too. He directed the officials to follow the Bengaluru model where such waste dumping people are brought to book, fined and jailed. 

Those dumping garbage will be identified and fined and even sent to jail. Only penal action will act as a deterrent, he said. In Bengaluru, vehicles dumping garbage are seized and fine is imposed. The owners are even sentenced to jail. This would be implemented in Mysuru also,     he said. 

“This penal action has enabled Bengaluru administration to effectively handle the menace to some extent and the results are visible with decrease in the dumping of waste at non-designated spots,” he revealed.

“Instructions have been issued to City Police Commissioner and Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner to crack down on those found dumping garbage, especially under the cover of darkness.  A close vigil will be maintained on garbage trucks that dispose of waste by the roadside and appropriate action will be taken against the vehicle owners,” he added. 

Officials of various departments including Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), MCC, Public Works Department (PWD), Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), had been entrusted with different responsibilities to keep the roads clean, he said and assured that 42-km Outer Ring Road will turn garbage-free soon. 

The Minister directed the officials to identify designated places to dump garbage. “The idea is to keep the city clean on all 365 days. We also want to plant trees along the Ring Road and I have asked the Forest Department and MUDA to formulate plans in this regard,” he added. 

MLAs G.T. Devegowda, Tanveer Sait, MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev, City Police Commissioner Dr. Chandragupta, DCP Dr. A.N. Prakash Gowda, MCC Commissioner Gurudatta Hegde, MUDA Commissioner Dr. D.B. Natesh and others were present.