The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) is grappling with a significant operational hurdle in its daily waste collection process, causing inconvenience to residents across the port city. Despite a systematic door-to-door collection system covering all 60 wards, the civic body lacks designated spaces to transfer the collected waste from smaller vehicles to larger compactors and trucks.
Roadside Transfer Creates Public Nuisance
Currently, in most wards, the critical transfer of waste from small collection vehicles to compactors is being carried out haphazardly by the sides of roads or in public areas. This issue was highlighted directly to Deputy Commissioner Darshan H.V., who also serves as the MCC administrator, during a recent phone-in programme.
Yogish Alake, a concerned resident, brought the matter to light. He explained that MCC workers routinely shift household waste onto trucks at roadside locations across the city. This practice of unloading and reloading garbage in public spaces severely inconveniences local communities. Alake further alleged that the workers often leave the site uncleaned after the transfer and fail to spray bleaching powder, raising serious hygiene and health concerns.
Unmarked Vehicles Compound the Problem
Adding to the civic mismanagement, a separate complaint has been filed against the MCC regarding its waste collection vehicles operating without visible registration numbers. Former MCC corporator Naveen Chandra pointed out that he has observed many such vehicles without number plates. He emphasized that several waste collection vehicles are also in poor condition, but citizens are unable to file specific complaints because the vehicles cannot be identified due to the missing registration details.
Official Response and Search for Solutions
Deputy Commissioner Darshan H.V. acknowledged awareness of the pressing issue. He assured that the problem would be addressed through coordination with MCC officials. According to officials, the corporation is now actively searching for suitable locations within each ward to establish proper waste transfer points. The goal is to execute this essential logistical step without causing further disruption or inconvenience to Mangaluru's residents. The collected waste is currently transported daily to the processing site at Pachanaday.
The absence of designated transfer stations is forcing a vital civic operation into public view, creating unsanitary conditions and highlighting a key infrastructure gap in the city's solid waste management system.
