Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (NP)

Udupi, Jul 14: Social activist Shrikanth Kuchoor has urged the authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the repeated fire incidents at waste management facilities across Udupi district, alleging that the recurring incidents have raised serious public suspicion.

while addressing the media at the press club Udupi, Shrikanth stated that fires have recently been reported at the waste management units in Koteshwar, Varamballi, the SLRM unit at Belve in Hebri taluk, the MRF unit serving 16 villages in Hebri taluk, and the Karkala City Municipal Council dumping yard.

He said the fires have not only destroyed waste but have also caused extensive damage to machinery, equipment, and buildings worth several lakhs of rupees. According to him, officials have failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the repeated incidents.

Shrikanth pointed out that officials had earlier attributed one of the fires in Hebri to extreme summer heat. However, he questioned how a similar fire could occur at the Karkala dumping yard during the ongoing monsoon season, adding that the repeated incidents have created widespread suspicion among the public.

He further stated that these waste management facilities were established under the Swachh Bharat Mission using public funds. Every fire results in the destruction of costly infrastructure, and rebuilding the damaged units would require spending crores of rupees from taxpayers' money once again.

Demanding accountability, Shrikanth urged the district administration to treat the matter seriously, conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into all the fire incidents, identify the actual causes, and clear the doubts prevailing among the public. Activist demands probe into recurring fires at Udupi district waste management units.