Hassan: Tourists carry unpleasant memories

Dumping garbage, burning of tyres, illegal activities on ring road

Is this the native of a former prime minister? is the question asked by a majority of visitors to the district — not because of high standards of living but negligence on the part of authorities concerned.

Lakhs of people visit pilgrimage centres and tourists places like Belur, Halebeedu, Shravanabelagola, etc every year. The condition of basic amenities at these places are pathetic and invites the wrath of tourists.

Tourists from Bangalore and neighbouring states have to ply on the ring road to reach Hassan and the incomplete work has become a cause for ridicule. Newspapers and other media have highlighted the problem umpteen number of times but to no avail.

The ring road, as per specification, is wide and garbage collected from various places have been dumped on one side of the road. The garbage includes leftovers from mutton stalls and rotten vegetables and the stench emanating from it engulfs the whole area, making it difficult for the people living here. It is this stench that welcomes tourists.

Apart from garbage, there are complaints about illegal activities going on at night. It is dangerous to walk alone on this road at night, say residents near the ring road.
The KSRTC has been dumping garbage on one of its vacant site next to an engineering college on the ring road.

Local people had opposed it and were successful. But the dumping of garbage — including broken glass pieces, old tyres, etc — has resumed since the last two months. Most of the times KSRTC authorities dispose old tyres by setting fire to it causing air pollution.

Encouraged by this, a choultry nearby has started throwing left-over food and used plantain leaves making it a breeding place for mosquitoes and flies. The residents have to keep their fans running despite cold weather condition to keep off flies.

Bottles of phenyl and other detergents does not have any impact on flies, say locals.

Who has to take care of the ring road is the question haunting the people. While it is the PWD, which laid the road, the garbage is being dumped by KSRTC and choultry owners and the area comes under Satyamangala gram panchayat. As the CMC says it does not come under its limits, does the gram panchayat has enough funds to take up maintenance. The KSRTC should keep its premises and help maintain cleanliness. The district administration should intervene and warn the KSRTC, opine residents.