Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, chairing a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) on Tuesday, said the issue of waste accumulation and encroachments by the side of national highway stretches from Pumpwell Junction to Thokkottu and Padil to Farangipete should be addressed at the earliest.He said that a lot of encroachments by petty shops and permanent buildings have come up by the side of the National Highway between Padil and Farangipete. “Talk to the deputy commissioner, get a survey done and clear the encroachments,” the MP said.Deputy commissioner Darshan HV said a joint drive will be carried out to clear encroachments soon. “I have already spoken to the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) and city police to fix a date and carry out a drive,” he said.National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project director Abdulla Javed Azmi said that an official survey needs to be conducted to identify the actual encroachments. The DC directed revenue department officials to coordinate with the NHAI and carry out land survey work.The MP said that waste is being dumped along the highway roads from Farangipete to Mangaluru. “Places like Farangipete, Valachil and Tumbe are filled with piles of waste. Some environmental enthusiasts are conducting campaigns to raise public awareness. However, the dumping process continues unabated. The NHAI should conduct a campaign to clear this waste. CCTV cameras should be installed at black spots. Necessary action plans should be submitted,” he said.The DC directed officials to identify all black spots and make necessary arrangements to install CCTVs. MCC commissioner Ravichandra Naik said that the city corporation has identified black spots in its limits.NHAI project director said that from April 25, the national highway’s internal drainage waste removal work will be undertaken within MCC limits.
