Students clean up garbage-strewn stretch of Mysore Road

Engineering students help the BBMP clean up the stretch of Mysore Road between R. V. College and Bangalore University.

By Nitindra Bandyopadhyay

BANGALORE (Dec. 6)—Students of R.V. College of Engineering have joined hands with Bangalore’s municipal corporation, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to clean up the stretch of road between the college and Bangalore University.

Garbage is strewn on the sides of Mysore Road and it has been burned for the past few weeks creating a lot of problems for commuters on this stretch.

“We send lorries and autos for each area in Channasandra, Kenchehalli and Mailsandra,” said Maruthi. P of the BBMP. “But residents don’t give them garbage. Instead, they put them in polythene bags and throw them at the side of the Mysore Road.”

He added that few residents burn their garbage at night to clear it, causing a lot of smoke and pollution. This in turn causes problem for the commuters.

“We have taken this cleanliness drive to pass on a message to the miscreants,” said Harshit Sahay, president of R.V.College’s Rotaract Club. “People don’t realize that throwing garbage on the road is not a solution. They just think if they throw it out of their houses, the problem is solved.”

He added that the stench from the garbage creates a lot of problems for commuters and the students who come to the college in the morning. The Rotaract Club members took this initiative in association with the BBMP to pass a strong message to the people who litter the place.

“Not only residents, but also people driving in flashy cars throw out garbage on the streets,” said Ankit Kaul, director of the Rotaract Club. “They throw it on the divider, and it is very dangerous for people to clean it because of the heavy traffic plying always on this road.”

Residents tell a different tale

Local residents, however, blamed the BBMP for the garbage problem.

“The workers who come to collect the garbage charge money for it,” said Eswarappa. B, a resident of BHEL Layout. They increase their demand every day. Earlier they charged Rs. 10, but now they demand up to Rs. 40 for taking garbage from each house.”

Many residents choose not to be fleeced in this way and throw garbage on the road to avoid paying the charges.

The BBMP introduced a special provision in its collection of property tax in which the amount for clearing garbage was included.

The BBMP contractor of the area denied the residents’ claims.

“We don’t charge them,” said Srinivas. “It is just carelessness on behalf of the residents to throw garbage along the Mysore Road. They even burn the garbage in the open, which is illegal and causes a lot of pollution.”

But Eswarappa said: “It is the BBMP workers who burn the garbage on the side of the road. They don’t clean it because they don’t get money for cleaning it. Instead, they burn it to save labor.”

Rising above the bickering between the residents and the BBMP, the students of R.V.College took the initiative on a public holiday to set an example for others by cleaning up the garbage themselves.