Municipal workers in Anekal have expressed deep frustration over the public’s lack of cooperation in maintaining cleanliness, describing the residents’ attitude as “stone-hearted.” Despite daily efforts to keep the town clean, workers report that garbage is frequently dumped indiscriminately on major roads, rendering their labor ineffective. The municipal workers, including Harish, Rohit, and Madhusudan, stated that residents often refuse to place household waste in the collection vehicles or the designated bins installed in public areas, instead dumping it on the streets. They noted that even after clearing piles of garbage, the same spots are immediately re-contaminated, creating a continuous cycle of pollution that undermines their hard work.
Madhusudan, a municipal worker, highlighted that the team begins cleaning operations at 5 a.m. daily to preserve the town’s beauty, but the task is complicated by the indiscriminate dumping of meat waste and empty bottles along the roadside. He described this behavior as a significant challenge. Although the municipality has installed iron garbage bins on major roads with signage instructing the public to use them, most residents continue to dump waste nearby rather than inside the bins, causing a foul smell to pervade the atmosphere. This negligence has turned the daily cleaning routine into an additional burden for the workers.
Kumar, the Chief Officer of the Municipality, stated that the administration is considering displaying banners on major streets featuring photographs of individuals caught dumping garbage to encourage cooperation. To prevent indiscriminate dumping, the municipality is planning to establish two waste collection units in pilot locations, with operations set to begin by November 15. Residents will be able to deposit segregated wet and dry waste at these units. Municipal officers also expressed dissatisfaction regarding the misuse of public gardens, which were converted from garbage block spots to green spaces. Despite the efforts to maintain these gardens, residents continue to dump waste adjacent to them, particularly on Hosur Road and Market Road, turning these intended clean spots into garbage dumps.
