Garbage piles along national highway tarnish Mangaluru's smart city image

Mangaluru: The waste management problem in Smart City Mangaluru is worsening with each passing day, as garbage piles along the roadside continue to mar the city’s appearance. Large heaps of waste have been dumped along the stretch of the National Highway from Kuntikana to KPT, creating an eyesore and raising serious environmental concerns.

Locals allege that garbage has been dumped along this stretch for several years. Despite the issue being brought to the notice of the Mangaluru City Corporation and the National Highways Authority, no effective action has been taken so far. The area is surrounded by houses and residential complexes, and residents are facing inconvenience due to the persistent waste problem.

A few months ago, environmental activists had carried out a cleanliness drive in the area and installed awareness boards warning people against dumping waste. For a brief period, garbage dumping reduced, but the problem has resurfaced, with cleanliness once again neglected in the surroundings.

Garbage piles along roadsides have become a common sight across the city. Areas such as Mannagudde, Bejai, State Bank, Hampankatta, Chilimbi, Bandaru, Kottara and several other locations continue to witness roadside dumping. In some places, banners stating ‘Do not dump waste’ along with CCTV cameras have been installed, yet garbage heaps are often found right below them.

Plastic waste dominates the garbage strewn along the roads. Stray cattle frequently roam near the highways, and there have been instances of animals consuming plastic waste. In some cases, unidentified persons have set fire to the plastic waste, filling the surrounding areas with smoke and posing health hazards.

With an increasing number of tourists visiting Mangaluru during weekends and festive occasions such as Christmas and the New Year, the sight of garbage-laden roadsides is proving to be a major setback to the city’s image. The unchecked dumping of waste has emerged as a black mark on Mangaluru’s scenic beauty, prompting calls for immediate and effective intervention by the authorities.