Mysuru: The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) cleared 267.55 metric tonnes of waste generated at various Dasara event venues between October 11 and 22, as the city hosted thousands of visitors for the annual festivities.
According to MCC Commissioner M K Savitha, the waste collected included 148.46 metric tonnes of wet waste and 119.09 metric tonnes of dry waste. The civic body deployed additional personnel, vehicles and mechanised cleaning equipment under its ‘Swachha Dasara’ initiative to maintain Mysuru’s clean-city image during the celebrations.
The cleaning operations covered the Mysuru Palace premises and several venues that hosted food fairs, cultural programmes, sports competitions, exhibitions and other Dasara events.
Food mela accounts for major share of waste
The food mela at Maharaja’s College Grounds generated the largest share of waste during the celebrations. The MCC collected 161.55 metric tonnes of waste from the venue, including 136.55 metric tonnes of wet food waste, 20.43 metric tonnes of dry waste and 4.65 metric tonnes of empty bottles.
The figures highlight the waste-management challenge posed by large food fairs, where discarded food, packaging materials and beverage containers accumulate rapidly.
Other locations covered by the cleaning teams included the Mysuru Palace premises, Karnataka Kalamandira, Jaganmohan Palace and Town Hall, where cultural programmes were held.
The teams also cleared waste from J K Grounds, which hosted Women’s and Children’s Dasara, Farmers’ Dasara and a pet show; Kuppanna Park, the venue for the flower show; and Chamundi Vihar Stadium, where Dasara sports events took place.
At Bannimantap Grounds, where the drone show, air show and torchlight parade were organised, sanitation teams carried out cleaning operations. Waste was also collected from D Devaraj Urs Multipurpose Stadium at the Dasara exhibition grounds, which hosted wrestling competitions.
300 additional workers deployed
To handle the increased waste generated during the festival, the MCC deployed 300 additional sanitation workers alongside its existing workforce of 1,861 cleanliness workers.
The teams worked in three shifts to ensure that event venues and public spaces were cleaned regularly throughout the celebrations.
The civic body also deployed five sweeping machines and used 329 autorickshaws, 69 tractors and 34 compactors to collect and transport waste from the different locations.
In addition, the MCC installed 100 extra dustbins, taking the number of dustbins available for the festival to 200, including those already in place.
Commissioner Savitha appreciated the sanitation workers for their efforts in maintaining cleanliness during the festivities, which drew large crowds to the city.
26 tonnes of waste collected on Vijayadashami
The Vijayadashami procession on October 22 required extensive cleaning along the route and at major gathering points.
The source report states that 26 metric tonnes of waste were collected on procession day from the route, the Palace and Bannimantap premises, and the Ahara Mela venue.
However, the accompanying figures for wet and dry waste appear inconsistent with the stated total: the report lists 37.5 metric tonnes of wet waste and 63.5 metric tonnes of dry waste. These figures require clarification from the MCC.
The procession and its associated events draw large crowds, making the prompt removal of litter important for maintaining public spaces and allowing normal activities to resume after the celebrations.
Flex-free Dasara initiative
Alongside waste collection, the MCC also implemented a ‘Flex-free Dasara’ initiative to preserve the city’s appearance. Unauthorised flex banners were identified and removed as part of the campaign.
Mysuru generally generates between 550 and 580 metric tonnes of municipal waste each day, including around 302 metric tonnes of wet waste. The additional waste generated during Dasara therefore required a coordinated response involving sanitation workers, transport vehicles and cleaning equipment.
Residents have urged the civic body to continue similar cleanliness initiatives beyond the festival season to protect the city’s aesthetics, environment and public health.
The MCC’s operations during Dasara underline the importance of planning for waste collection and disposal during large public events. Sustaining the initiative through regular monitoring, adequate dustbins and public cooperation could help Mysuru maintain cleanliness throughout the year.