Madikeri: Garbage is piling up at multiple points in Gonikoppal as the fast-growing town struggles to manage rising waste generation.For the past two months, accumulated garbage has not been transported for scientific disposal, leading to large heaps along the roadside at Harishchandrapura on Gonikoppal-Mysuru Main Road and near the bridge in ward 3.With new settlements, hotels, and commercial activity expanding in the town, daily waste collection has increased sharply. Civic workers continue to collect garbage from eight wards, as well as from shops, hotels and other establishments, during morning and evening hours. However, the collected waste is being packed into bags and dumped in open areas.Residents say strong winds are scattering the bagged waste, while stray dogs are tearing open bags containing mixed dry and wet garbage, spreading it onto roads. The resulting foul smell has become a major inconvenience, especially for pedestrians and children passing through the affected stretches.Though a tender has reportedly been issued for transporting the accumulated waste, contractors are said to be showing little interest.Locals alleged that the garbage problem has worsened due to a lack of administrative will and a rift between the elected representatives and the officials. Despite instructions from MLA A S Ponnanna to resolve the issue, there is no change.While nearby Aruvattoklu panchayat has a system for collecting dry waste, similar arrangements have not been effectively implemented in Gonikoppal. Lack of adequate space for dumping has remained a long-standing problem.Panchayat development officer Thimmaiah said contractors from Mysuru have agreed to transport the garbage and that the heaps will be cleared in a few days.However, the gram panchayat president Kullachanda Pramod Ganapathy blamed the PDO for the problem, saying he takes unilateral decisions that have led to a worsening situation.
