Anush Pandith

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Feb 22: With the city developing drastically in terms of roads, buildings and quality of life, it is very disheartening to notice waste being dumped in large quantity beside the national highway (NH). Well known architect of the city, Sanath Shetty, has taken up the initiative of cleaning debris from NH.

Speaking to daijiworld Sanath Shetty said, “When crores of rupees are being invested for the construction of highways, people are not bothered to keep them clean. I took up the initiative of cleaning the debris strewn on national highway near Kadri four times and also at Gurupur highway. I planted saplings beside highway at Kadri to maintain greenery beside the road. Waste in being dumped in large quantity which passes a bad opinion to the visitors about Mangaluru regarding cleanliness.

“No one knows who dumps waste here. During the night time, people come in their vehicles and dump waste. Despite MCC assigning places to dump waste, people still dump waste in open places. People are taking cleanliness of the city very lightly and some even are dump waste in the small water bodies which is really wrong.

“I am planning to take up awareness programmes on cleanliness at schools and colleges. I will also install CCTV cameras on KPT national highway to keep an eye on the culprits who dump waste beside the national highway. If this plan works out well, then CCTV cameras will be put up in other areas where waste is being dumped. Mangaluru is one of the beautiful cities in Karnataka, but maintaining its beauty is people’s responsibility. At Gurupur, chicken waste is being dumped, which results a foul smell in the area. Despite cleaning it several times, people dump chicken waste again and again. There are dustbins placed and people should make use of it. We prefer to only speak about cleanliness but none of them practice it in reality. People should come forward and it is their responsibility to make this city clean,” said Sanath Shetty.