MCC gears up for ‘clean, plastic-free’ Dasara

The ‘City of Palaces’, which emerged as the ‘Cleanest City’ twice, is gearing up for a ‘clean and plastic-free Dasara-2018’. The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), responsible for maintaining the beauty of the city, has hired 280 additional pourakarmikas to ensure cleanliness during Dasara celebrations, between October 10 and 19.

As people from across the country, as well as from foreign nations, will be in the city to witness Dasara, the waste collected will be in large quantities and it is inevitable to depute additional workers as it is difficult to dispose of the waste at once.

The MCC has 2,500 regular workers and 280 have been hired on contract basis.

The additional workers will be divided into four teams, each comprising 70 workers, while the employees of the MCC will take up works on a shift basis.

During Dasara-2017, the authorities had collected 3,000 kg of plastic in just a week’s time. MCC Commissioner K H Jagadeesh said, the employees will be deputed at all the nine venues where Dasara programmes have been scheduled. The workers will take up works in three shifts. In addition, the employees will be deputed on Raja Marga, major streets in the city and at tourists hot spots. A nodal officer will be deputed for each major street to supervise the works, he said.

Cleanliness drives

The teams will also take up cleanliness drives near Kote Anjaneya Swami Temple, D Devaraj Urs Road, Sayyaji Rao Road, Mysuru Zoo, MG Road, Irwin Road, Sub-Urban bus stand, Five Lights Circle, Millenium Circle, Fountain Circle, Ashoka Road, Gopalagowda Nagar, Dasara Exhibition Grounds, Basaveshwara Circle, Purandara Dasa Road and other places.

The MCC has also taken measures to celebrate plastic-free Dasara this time.

The MCC has decided to run an upgraded vehicle under the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activity, to spread the message about cleanliness.

The customised vehicle has been fitted with two LED screens to display messages and videos related to cleanliness. The vehicle will move around the city and will also be stationed at public places such as Railway Station, Bus Stand and markets.

Videos of various programmes taken up by the MCC, in order to maintain cleanliness and to spread the message about the harmful effects of plastic, will be displayed on the screens.

The messages of former cricketer Javagal Srinath, also the brand ambassador of Clean Mysuru, will be displayed.

MCC Health Officer Dr H Ramachandra said, the authorities are thinking to impose a ban on the use of plastic at the Chamundi Hill, Exhibition Grounds, Zoo, JK Grounds, Scouts and Guides Grounds, Kuppanna Park among the other places.