Admin to collectively crackdown on unscientific transportation of debris

Mangaluru: Disparate wings of district administration are collectively set to crack down on a seemingly innocuous practice of vehicles transporting construction debris, especially mud. Part of this collective effort are the revenue department, Mangaluru City Police and Mangaluru City Corporation who have decided to join hands in addressing the issue that poses danger to lives and limbs of motorists and is a potential source of dust pollution.
Acknowledging concerns in this regard, deputy commissioner Dr K V Rajendra told TOI that he will instruct commissioners of city police and City Corporation to check the practice. “We will collectively put in place a verifiable mechanism where transportation of debris is done as per norms,” Dr Rajendra said adding the urban local bodies and the city police and even DK district police will play their role in addressing the issue.
Vikash Kumar Vikash, city police commissioner said once a vehicle is on the road, police will take action against traffic violations, including transportation of construction debris that spills onto the roads. When the attention of Akshy Sridhar, commissioner, MCC to the lapses in unscientific transportation of debris from both private and government construction sites was drawn, Sridhar said he too will get the issue checked at the earliest.
Former mayor Diwakar Kadri said there are well-laid out norms for transportation of debris of all types, construction debris included. However, with no proper supervision by the authorities concerned in place, builders and contractors flout the same with impunity, he said. “City police should spot and initiate action against violators using their network of CCTV cameras and this should not be used merely for general traffic violations,” he said.
Mud that spills on to the roads turns slushy during rains and is a potential driving risk for motorists, especially two-wheelers. “I almost skidded when driving my scooter on one such mud splattered stretch of road from Urwa Market junction to Lady Hill,” said Sharath Kumar, resident of Gandhinagar. The mud that dries up when sun is out, throws up copious amounts of dust when vehicles pass over it or when scattered by gust of wind, he said.