Mysuru, Oct. 13 (SPN&DM)- The members of Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), who met here at the MGP office on Vivekananda Road in Yadavagiri yesterday, expressed deep displeasure over litter of 600 tonnes of wastes across the city by tourists and local people who took part in different events at multiple venues during the 11-day Dasara festival which concluded recently in the city, which matter has turned out into a national debate.
The MGP members, taking strong exception to the lethargic attitude of the people in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene during Dasara, urged the Government to introduce moral education right from primary education to higher education and to penalise those who do not segregate wastes by enactment of a Law.
MCC Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE) K.S. Mrutyunjaya, who took part in an interaction based on the topic ‘Dasara cleanliness: Management and Reforms,’ replied to questions raised by MGP members on why the Dasara High Power Committee had not seriously considered carrying out awareness campaigns on the importance of maintaining hygiene and non-use of plastics during Dasara.
In his response, Mrutyunjaya said that following a Government direction, the MCC prioritised hygiene and cleanliness during Dasara.
Stating that there were different Dasara Sub-Committees to manage things, he said that all these Sub-Committees have done a good job within their limits and accordingly, the Hygiene Sub-Committee too has done an excellent job.
When some members pointed out that garbage was dumped in the areas around the Palace and Aahara Mela and that garbage bins were not kept in front of stalls, Mrutyunjaya said that all Sub-Committees have carried out their assigned task and worked for the success of Dasara.
Maintaining that the MCC had done its best within its scope to maintain hygiene and cleanliness during Dasara, he said that though there might be some minor lapses, overall the Dasara was a grand success in all aspects.
The MGP members observed that there may be accountability if the MCC is completely entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining Dasara Aahara Mela hygiene, food quality and waste disposal. In response, Mrutyunjaya said that this issue does not come entirely under the purview of the MCC. However, the Dasara High Power Committee can consider this and it is this Committee alone which can penalise those failing to maintain hygiene, quality of food and such other issues.
The MGP members argued that the MCC authorities could have directed the Dasara Aahara Mela vendors to ensue bins are emptied and garbage is cleared without waiting for the night. The MCC could also have asked the vendors to take up the responsibility of ensuring their areas are clean the way hoteliers are expected to do by regulations, they maintained.
Some MGP members said that there are more than 41,000 Government Primary Schools in the State and the Government seems to have not taken sanitation issues in these schools seriously. They urged the Government to take necessary measures for regular maintenance of toilets, hygiene and such other issues bothering the schools.
The meeting passed 4 resolutions urging the Government to give top priority for maintaining hygiene and to provide quality food to people visiting Dasara Aahara Mela, keeping of garbage bins in front of every stall, usage of public address system to make regular announcements asking people to maintain cleanliness and hygiene during Dasara Jumboo Savari procession, Torchlight Parade and all other Dasara event venues and to introduce topics on hygiene and cleanliness in State and Central curriculum.
MGP President S. Shobhana, members D.V. Dayananda Sagar, Bhanuprashanth, Nataraj (a retired MUDA official), Dr. Renu Agarwal, Gangadhar Prasad, Malavika Gubbivani, V. Shankar, Vishwanath, K.V.K. Naidu, G. Sridhar, Dr. Surekha, Prabha Nandish, Ashwini Ranjan, Rotary West School Administrative Officer (AO) Shankar, Rotary Brindavan School AO Dinesh, M.S. Asha, K.R. Shankarmurthy, S. Tejas Kumar, Arun K. Subramanyam, M.S. Dinesh, T.R. Ravindra and others were present.
The MGP on Aug. 11, had launched a poster campaign (highlighting 2 mantras — Do not litter and stop others from littering) to promote ‘My city, My Responsibility’ campaign at BSS Vidyodaya School as a preparation for clean Dasara.
As many as 19 schools of the city had exhibited these posters in the classrooms of their schools to remind students to act as a public eye to prevent littering and maintenance of cleanliness.
This post was published on October 13, 2025 7:38 pm