Diabolical smells, sights at KRS...

Used plastic water bottles, stench welcome hordes of tourists from across the country

With thousands of tourists flocking the place every day, which increases manifold during vacation, used mineral water bottles and other plastic strewn and the stench emanating from stagnant water is sure to shock tourists who visit the place hoping to see crystal clear waters.

Though the KRS dam and the popular Brindavan gardens are situated in Mandya district, it has put Mysore on the global map. Mysore and Brindavan gardens have almost become synonymous.

Now, with copious rains lashing catchment areas in Kodagu and Hassan, people from far off places are making their weekends worthy by visiting the dam which stands majestic amid the greenery of the beautiful Brindavan gardens. The district administration is striving to keep the place on a par with international standards by maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. There are several boards announcing to keep the place plastic-free.

But tourists walking on the bridge to have a glimpse of the other side of the gardens where the musical fountain is situated are sure to be shocked with hundreds of used plastic bottles floating on water and stench emanating from rotten aquatic plants stagnate at one side of the bridge. Though the authorities concerned have been taking all steps to put a stop to this, it has become an eyesore for tourists.

Walking on the road over the dam with 124 feet of water to your left and increased outflow — gushing out of crest gates on your right and a splash of water with a clinking sound of huge metal chains right under your feet is an experience which should be cherished as public entry on the dam has been banned, thanks to the threat by LTTE years ago. The road which was used by villagers on the other side of the dam was closed and security beefed up. But, recently, vehicles, including two-wheelers and four wheelers, were seen plying on the dam.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, executive engineer Vijay Kumar said with Dasara festivities around the corner, sprucing up of the gardens has begun. The number of crest gates opened depends on the inflow and currently, 11 sluice gates out of 153 have been opened.

Commenting on the discarded bottles which mars the beauty of the gardens, he admitted that though boards have being erected at several places with sufficient dustbins, miscreants find momentary pleasure in dirtying the place, which is visited by people across the world.

They do not understand that by dirtying public places they are blackening the face of the state and the country. Employees would be deployed for regular cleaning and monitoring the place, he assured.

However, he denied that the road on the dam is being misused and said public entry has been closed for the past 12 years.