The Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has decided to undertake a one-time exercise to clear garbage dumped on the flanks of State and national Highways in Mangaluru and Bantwal taluks to mark World Environment Day on June 5.
The exercise is also aimed at creating awareness among the residents about proper disposal of waste.
The panchayat has identified 35 places under 38 gram panchayats for the drive, where garbage is being rampantly thrown.
Addressing a preparatory meeting for the purpose, ZP Deputy Secretary N.R. Umesh said the ZP was concerned that the habit might become epidemic if not contained immediately.
About 50-70 tonnes of garbage is estimated to have been dumped in those places.
While gram panchayats are bound to keep surroundings clean, lack of punitive powers to deal with people dumping waste has affected the move.
Chief Executive Officer said after the cleanliness drive, the ZP will plant saplings in most of the 35 places to discourage people from dumping waste.
The Mangaluru City Corporation has promised to take al the collected waste at its Pachchanadi dumping yard, he said.
The meeting was attended by stakeholders from educational institutions, panchayat development officers, heads of educational institutions and other invitees who offered to cooperate with the initiative.
A representative of voluntary service organization said that his organisation intends to set up parks in waste dumping spots on the Mangaluru-Moodbidri road, but is wary of proceeding since the area has been marked for expansion of the national highway.
Some participants highlighted lack of designated dumping yards for gram panchayats which force rampant disposal of solid waste.
Ramakrishna Mission’s Swatch Mangaluru Abhiyan Convener Swamy Ekagamyanandaji said the Mission would extend all its help to the initiative.