While the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) is boasting about managing the waste effectively in the city, there are several areas where the civic body and elected representatives have turned a blind-eye towards the issue.
One such spot, where garbage has been left unattended for months together, is St Mary’s road, sixth cross, N R Mohalla (which comes under ward no 49). The garbage heap formed of cow dung and other wet waste blankets almost half of the road on one side — forcing the vehicles to pass over the drinking water pipe placed on the other side which has caused damages to the water pipes.
Apart from the foul smell, the heap of waste has also become a breeding place for mosquitos and other disease-spreading organisms.
“Our children are deprived of playing even inside the compound in the evening due to fear of mosquitos. Fans and mosquito coils have no effect on the flies,” said a housewife.
About three to four families on the road rear cattle and have found a single dumping place for the waste, which is not near to any of their houses.
They dump it there for various purposes of manure, cake from cow dung and others.
Garbage truck
The residents complain that the garbage truck which comes once in a week or twice collects not more than two or three baskets of the waste — blatantly leaving behind a mountain of the waste.
The engineers and contractors, who visit the place whenever the residents complain, leave the spot assuring appropriate measures. But, residents say, till date there has been no effective measure taken.
Meanwhile, they want the authorities to instruct the cattle rearers at least to dispose the waste without posing hazard to other residents.
The owners of the shops located at a commercial complex say the customers complain of the place reeking of garbage. It goes without saying that people have to cover their nose while passing on the road.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, corporator of the ward Syed Hasrath Ulla said he has visited the spot personally and has even sent officers — following complaints.
“While a group of people want the waste to be cleared, the other group (cattle rearers) oppose and send back the officials without allowing them to take any step,” he said.
“Let them submit a written complaint to the MCC and measures would be taken to clear the garbage,” Hasrath Ulla promised.