Mysuru: Heaps of garbage dumped along Lalithadripura Road near the foothills of Chamundi Hill have raised concerns over pollution, public health and the safety of livestock and wildlife in the area.
The stretch, described as a sensitive green zone, has reportedly turned into a dumping ground, with waste allegedly being brought from the limits of the Rammanahalli Town Panchayat, Alanahalli Gram Panchayat and Mysuru City Corporation (MCC). Some of the waste is also being set on fire, leaving behind piles of half-burnt plastic and other hazardous material.
The situation has sparked concern among residents, particularly because the dumping is taking place close to the Chamundi Hill ecosystem, one of Mysuru’s prominent natural and tourist landmarks.
Garbage dumped along Lalithadripura Road
According to residents quoted in the report, garbage collection vehicles from the surrounding local-body areas regularly offload waste along Lalithadripura Road.
The waste reportedly includes plastic bags, torn clothes, expired food packets, tea powder, fried snacks and beverage containers. With the garbage accumulating in large quantities, the area has increasingly begun to resemble an open dumping ground.
The report also points out that the Rammanahalli Town Panchayat and Alanahalli Gram Panchayat do not have dedicated waste segregation and treatment plants. Residents have alleged that garbage collected from these areas is consequently being dumped along Lalithadripura Road instead of being scientifically processed.
The dumping has raised questions about waste-management practices in the area and the effectiveness of efforts to maintain Mysuru as a clean and environmentally conscious city.
Waste burning adds to pollution concerns
Apart from indiscriminate dumping, some of the accumulated waste has reportedly been set on fire.
Burning plastic and mixed waste can release harmful pollutants, while the resulting smoke and smell can affect people living or travelling in the vicinity. The report states that half-burnt plastic and other material remain scattered along the road after such fires.
The combination of open dumping and waste burning has therefore created an additional environmental concern in the foothills.
Residents have urged the authorities to stop the practice and ensure that waste is segregated and taken to appropriate treatment facilities rather than being disposed of in the open.
Threat to cattle and wildlife
The garbage is also creating risks for animals in the area.
Cattle that graze around the foothills could consume plastic along with leftover food, potentially causing serious health problems. The Star of Mysore report recalls an earlier incident in which more than 20 cows died near the APMC yard on Uttanahalli Road after consuming expired fried-food waste.
Residents fear that a similar incident could occur if the garbage continues to accumulate along Lalithadripura Road.
The presence of food waste is also attracting stray dogs and other animals. Residents have expressed concern that such activity could draw predators such as leopards and jackals closer to populated areas around Chamundi Hill.
The area has previously witnessed instances of leopards preying on dogs, adding to fears about possible human-animal encounters if the dumping continues.
Three civic bodies face responsibility
Lalithadripura Road falls within an area involving three local bodies — MCC, Rammanahalli Town Panchayat and Alanahalli Gram Panchayat.
Residents have questioned why the civic authorities have not taken collective responsibility for keeping the stretch clean. They have called for the garbage already accumulated along the road to be cleared immediately and for a system to be put in place to prevent further dumping.
A resident, Ahinda Javarappa, told Star of Mysore that civic bodies should work together rather than shifting responsibility based on jurisdiction.
The issue also comes at a time when Mysuru continues to promote cleanliness initiatives and campaigns aimed at improving waste management. The dumping of large quantities of garbage in a green zone near Chamundi Hill has consequently raised concerns over the gap between cleanliness campaigns and ground-level implementation.
Residents seek immediate action
Residents have urged the authorities to remove the accumulated waste, prevent vehicles from dumping garbage along the road and introduce proper scientific waste disposal measures.
They have also called for stronger monitoring of garbage collection vehicles so that waste collected from different local-body limits is taken to authorised segregation and treatment facilities.
With the Lalithadripura stretch located close to the Chamundi Hill ecosystem, residents say immediate action is necessary to protect the area from further degradation.
The issue is not limited to the appearance of the road. Continued dumping and burning could affect soil, air quality, livestock and wildlife, while also creating a public-health concern.
For now, residents are seeking coordinated action from the three civic bodies to clear the garbage and prevent the Lalithadripura Road stretch from becoming a permanent dumping ground.