The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has initiated a drive to remove silt from and declog stormwater drains in different parts of the city ahead of the monsoon.
But, the indiscriminate dumping of the silt in residential areas has sparked complaints from citizens.
The MCC identified stormwater drains in Udayagiri and surrounding areas that were choking with silt and other waste and the process to remove silt from them began a few weeks ago. But, to the chagrin of residents of Thatappa Layout in Udayagiri, silt and other waste from the stormwater drains was dumped into a vacant civic amenity (CA) site and an adjoining park in the area.
“Several truckloads of silt removed from the drains in different parts of Udayagiri has been dumped into the CA site,” said Tahseen, a resident.
When residents questioned the contractor, he claimed that the local councillor had asked him to dump the silt into the site. However, the councillor has denied the contractor’s claim.
“We have asked him to remove the waste, which has an unbearable stench and is creating an unhygienic atmosphere,” said Zaheer, another resident.
Although a week has elapsed since the silt was dumped on the CA site, no action has been taken to remove the same.
Meanwhile, MCC Health Officer D.G. Nagaraj said the silt from stormwater drains cannot be dumped in vacant CA sites in residential areas and has to be transported to landfills and compost plants.
When the complaint was brought to the notice of Superintending Engineer MCC Mahesh Gowda, he promised to shift the dumped silt from the site to the MCC’s waste management centre in Vidyaranyapuram soon.
In several other areas too, the contractors have left mounds of silt along the drain. The silt either spreads on the road or finds its way back into the drain.