Waste management: Increase in funds fail to improve situation

Cleanliness in the city is in inverse relation with the funds earmarked by the City Municipal Council (CMC) for the purpose every year.

Though there is an increase in the funds set aside for solid waste management every year, the city lacks cleanliness, which irks the residents.

While garbage is littered on several streets, some of the plastic bins erected by the roadside have gone missing — leaving behind iron frames.

Hoteliers and shops owners would dump rubbish into the bins. Sometimes, wet waste was also dumped, causing foul smell, attracting cattle, which often damaged the plastic bins. However, the CMC has not replaced the bins.

In the year 2012-13, Rs 72 lakh was earmarked by the CMC for waste management. It was increased to Rs 80 lakh in 2013-14. Even then, the authorities concerned have failed to utilise the funds appropriately.

When it comes to collection of waste from houses, launched recently, some residents lack awareness on segregating garbage.

A few of them even dump the waste by the roadside after the garbage cart is gone. Residents blame the CMC for not creating awareness among the people about their role in managing waste.

Gopalappa, a senior citizen, opines that the CMC and residents share equal responsibility in waste management.