Mysuru, which was ranked among the cleanest city in India in 2016, slid to 27th position in 2023.
| Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM
In a bid to ensure that Mysuru regains its top slot as a clean city and retains its old world charm, a city-based NGO has called for constitution of a high-level committee of former Mayors and elected representatives of different political parties, to monitor the city’s cleanliness.
Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has mooted the idea in a letter to Justice Subhash B. Adi, chairman, State-level commtitee of the National Green Tribunal. This followed a meeting convened in Mysuru recently by Justice Adi, to discuss ways and means of addressing various civic issues plaguing the city.
Bhamy V. Shenoy, founding working president of MGP, in his letter to Justice Adi, suggested a slew of measures to supplement the discussions that were held in the meeting. The establishment of a monitoring committee of former Mayors assumes significance as Mysuru which was ranked among the cleanest city in India in 2016, slid to 27th position in 2023.
Mr. Shenoy said that MCC should conceive an incentive-based strategy to promote the concept of composting bio-degradable wates at choultry, parks, apartments etc. It was suggested that a technical committee comprising experts drawn from local engineering colleges too could be conceived and find out the quantum of waste generated and the means to dispose them.
Mr. Shenoy said it was time to consider waste as a source of wealth as it could trigger some innovative solutions from the citizens. The MGP stressed the imperatives of the MCC imposing fines on citizens who litter and the current amount levied as fine – amounting to ₹11 lakh – was insignificant, considering the way residents throw garbage and fail to segregate it.
In a bid to bolster public participation, MCC’s idea of issuing Swachchata Mithra ID to citizens coming forward to monitor the clean campaign in their respective wards or blocks, was deemed as a novel idea and welcomed.
The NGT was impressed upon the urgency of ensuring that the provisions of the Karnataka Park and Open Spaces Act was not violated apart from keeping the footpaths free of encroachment for pedestrians to move.
Other issues raised by Mr. Shenoy included lack of facilities to recycle and handle construction and demolition waste in the city. The MCC is waiting for the Mysuru Urban Development Authority to hand over the land but the exercise was yet to be completed though private agencies were ready to handle C&D waste, said Mr. Shenoy.
As a follow-up measure, the NGT was urged to take up a periodic audit of the clean Mysuru campaign with the help of consultants or educational institutions. Unless there was a systemic follow up, the clean city campaign risks being sidelined in pursuit of other matters by the civic authorities, said Mr. Shenoy.
Published – December 27, 2024 07:26 pm IST