Garbage dump at foot of Chamundi Hill: Minister pulls up officials

• Orders Mysuru Development Authority to clear as one-time solution; seeks CCTV camera vigil
• MCC, MDA, Panchayat garbage disposal coordination meeting soon

Mysuru: District Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah this morning visited the illegal waste dumping site along Lalithadripura Road (Lalithadrinagar) at the foot of Chamundi Hill and pulled up officials of Rammanahalli Town Panchayat & Alanahalli Gram Panchayat for allowing the area to turn into a dumping ground.

Walking along the stretch where garbage has been dumped on both sides of the road, the Minister expressed disbelief that a green zone developed by the Mysuru Development Authority (MDA) at the foot of Chamundi Hill had been reduced to a site of filth.

Star of Mysore had reported on the environmental hazards caused by the dumping, while local residents and activist Ahinda Javarappa had brought the issue to the Minister’s attention. They pointed out that despite more than 40 petitions being submitted to the Local Bodies, the garbage pile at the eco-sensitive foothills continued to grow.

MCC officials told the Minister that the Alanahalli Gram Panchayat had been dumping solid waste at the site as it did not have a waste-processing unit.

One-time clearance

Pulling up the officials for negligence, Dr. Yathindra directed the Tahsildar to immediately identify the Government land for setting up a scientific Waste Segregation and Management Plant for Alanahalli. He warned of strict action if the issue was not resolved at the earliest.

Representatives of the Rammanahalli Town Panchayat, meanwhile, clarified that its waste is segregated and handed over directly to the MCC under an existing agreement.

The Minister directed the MDA to undertake a complete one-time clearance of the accumulated garbage at the site.

“CCTV cameras will be installed at the location to identify those illegally dumping waste and impose heavy fines. Once the area is cleared, it will be beautified through tree planting to prevent further dumping,” he said.

ULB coordination meeting soon

Speaking to SOM, Dr. Yathindra said, a meeting of officials from all Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), adjoining the MCC limits, would be convened shortly to evolve uniform and scientific waste-management practices along all major entry points to the city.

Responding to concerns over public safety and illegal activities near the site of earlier crimes in the area, he directed the authorities to install streetlights and asked the Police to step up patrolling.

Activists also urged the Minister to address the overflow of sewage (UGD) onto the Outer Ring Road (ORR), which they alleged was polluting nearby lakes and the Varuna Canal.

Mysuru Taluk Tahsildar Mahesh Kumar, MCC Commissioner M.K. Savitha, MDA In-charge Commissioner B.R. Mahesh and officials of the local Panchayats accompanied the Minister.