Kishor Kumar Puttur, MLC for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, speaking at the Council on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Karnataka Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh on Tuesday informed the Legislative Council that he will soon visit Mangaluru and conduct a joint inspection of the Pachanady waste dumping yard along with people’s representatives of the region to find a lasting solution to the waste management issue.
He was responding to the demand by Kishor Kumar Puttur, the MLC representing Dakshina Kannada and Udupi local authorities constituency, that a permanent solution should be found to the burning waste disposal issue in Mangaluru as it has been affecting the health of residents.
The MLC sought a comprehensive report and concrete action from the government on the poor waste segregation, waste collection which takes place only once or twice a week in some areas, roadside waste dumping, lack of effective CCTV camera surveillance, the alarming condition of Pachanady dumping yard, and the city’s poor performance in the Swachh Survekshan rankings.
In his written reply, Mr. Suresh referred to measures such as the installation of CCTV cameras, the use of LED display boards to spread awareness on solid waste management, and the imposition of fines on those who litter.
Poor cleanliness
Expressing dissatisfaction with the response, Mr. Puttur stated, “Mangaluru is the second economic capital of the State; yet it has fallen to a very poor state in cleanliness”.
He said nearly nine lakh tonnes of legacy waste have remained unmanaged for years at Pachanady. With fresh soil and sludge piling up over it, the situation has led to unbearable stench, the spread of insects and worms, and a toxic environment, making life extremely difficult for residents of surrounding areas. People are afraid to even step out of their homes in the evenings. “If this is not an environmental disaster, then what is?“ he asked.
No politics
Stressing that the issue should not be politicised, he said, adding, “This is not a political matter; it is a question of public health, human life and environmental safety. Unless the Minister visits the spot along with MLAs and MLCs from Mangaluru region to see the ground reality, this problem cannot be resolved.“
Stating that the people of Mangaluru deserve clean air and a healthy living environment, Mr. Puttur said his peers, Pratap Simha Nayak, Manjunath Bhandary and Ivan D’Souza, will join the site visit. “We are ready to work together in a non-partisan manner for a solution. The government must act without delay,” he urged.
Published – December 16, 2025 10:58 pm IST
