Kollur: Plastic bottles and waste litter roads!

Kollur: The temple town of Kollur, a hub for thousands of pilgrims, is grappling with a growing challenge of waste management. Roads are littered with heaps of plastic bottles and other waste, while the disposal of wet and dry waste remains unorganized.

Plastic bottles from water and soft drinks, often discarded by pilgrims, have piled up along the main roads. Technical difficulties in waste management have led to garbage accumulating in public spaces.

Confusion Over Responsibility

Panchayat staff currently focus on managing waste from shops and residential areas. However, the Solid and Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) unit has lagged in addressing wet waste disposal. Further, no clear responsibility has been assigned for cleaning the roads and removing plastic waste, hampering the vision of a clean Kollur.

Meanwhile, the wet waste management facility, set up under the Swachh Bharat Mission at a cost of Rs 12 lakh, remains unused. This has raised concerns among locals, as waste is being dumped in yards, posing a threat of infectious diseases. The dumping areas emit a foul odor, forcing people passing through to cover their noses.

“There is a lack of clarity regarding the disposal of wet and dry waste, leading to confusion over the responsibility of management between the SLRM unit and the panchayat. With the cooperation of the Kollur temple, an alternative system can be implemented,” said Rukkanagowda, PDO, Kollur Gram Panchayat.