Unscientific waste disposal worries Madikeri residents

The residents of four layouts in Madikeri City Municipal Council jurisdiction are fearing the spread of contagious diseases following the dumping of garbage all over the place.

The garbage collected from 23 wards under the City Municipality is dumped near a hillock at Stone Hill. The solid waste management unit lacks maintenance, causing inconvenience to the residents. The piling up of garbage has become a nightmare for the residents.

Without scientific disposal, the residents of Subrahmanya Nagara, Rifle Range, Vidyanagara and Muliya Layout are forced to cover their noses while walking in the areas.

During monsoon, all waste water flows to these layouts from the dumping yard. Further, a portion of the hillock caved in in the last monsoon. The residents fear further caving in of the hillock during the monsoon this year.

Segregation machines

Local residents said, “The CMC had proposed to implement a scientific disposal of waste. It had identified a six-acre site near Stone Hill. The CMC also had installed garbage segregation machines at the site to convert degradable waste into manure. The machines have become defunct but the CMC has not taken measures to repair it and take up scientific disposal of garbage.”

Subrahmanya Nagara resident Prakash said, “The CMC collects fee for disposal of garbage from every household and commercial complexes. The collected fee should be set aside for sanitation and ensure effective waste collection and disposal system.”

Ravi Gowda, president of the Nagara Sarvajanika Hitha Rakshana Vedike, urged the CMC to give priority for cleanliness and sanitation. “Modern machines should be installed to segregate wet and dry waste. The City Municipal Council should initiate measures for the scientific disposal of waste,” he demanded.

CMC Commissioner Ramesh said, “The piling up of garbage has come to my notice. The CMC will take necessary measures after holding discussions with the officials concerned.”