Mangaluru: Around 3,000 kg of waste was collected during the May cleanliness drive of the Ramakrishna Mission's Swachh Mangaluru Abhiyan. Volunteers also raised concerns about long-duration, unauthorised roadside parking that creates black spots and safety risks.
Flagging Off the Drive
The drive was inaugurated on Sunday by Fr Valerian D'Souza, head of Rosario Church, and BHV Prasad, director of MRPL ONGC. Fr Valerian D'Souza remarked, "It is heartening to see youth actively participating in the Swachh Mangaluru movement and contributing their time towards keeping the city clean. I appreciate the Mission for creating awareness among citizens through such initiatives." BHV Prasad added, "Our organisation is proud to be associated with such an important initiative that promotes community participation, environmental responsibility and sustainable development." Notable attendees included Keshav Patali from MRPL, Capt Ganesh Karnik, Danesh Kumar, Kamalaksha Pai, Dilraj Alva, and Sri Ranjan Bellarpady.
Shramadan Activities
As part of the Shramadan activities, faculty members from the Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy — Purushothaman Chippala, Jayesh Chandran, Ruchitha Narsia, and Socrates — along with student volunteers, conducted a cleanliness drive along both sides of the road from Rosario Church to St Ann's College. The team removed garbage, collected non-recyclable plastic waste, cleared unauthorised banners, created awareness among shopkeepers, and removed unwanted weeds and grass. A team of senior volunteers cleared five major black spots along the road stretch from Rosario Church to the Post Office and cleaned clogged drains ahead of the monsoon to ensure smooth water flow.
Parking Concerns
During the drive, volunteers observed that a large number of lorries, cars, and old vehicles were parked for extended periods along the roadside from Rosario Hall to the road connecting State Bank, with public roads being used as private parking spaces. They stated that such unauthorised parking creates dark zones that attract black spots and may lead to illegal activities, besides posing health and safety risks, as many students and children pass through the area daily. The volunteers requested the authorities to regulate parking or introduce a paid parking system to ensure discipline and generate revenue.
The programme was organised in association with Swachh Mangaluru Prathishtana and supported by MRPL ONGC.
