Madikeri Dasara leaves bitter memories

Plastic waste strewn around at the Gandhi Maidan in Madikeri. (Pic source: Hindu)

MADIKERI: The Dasara celebrations in Madikeri has caused consternation among a section of the local people. The Gandhi Maidan area where stage and cultural functions were organised on Tuesday, the last day of the Madikeri Dasara, is littered with plastic and other wastes.

The Mahatma Gandhi Road (Raja Seat road) has a trail of plastic bottles, sachets, cups and other items, all non-biodegradable. Places that attracted a large number of people during the celebrations have become an eyesore.

Will it serve the cause of the Madikeri City Municipal Council (CMC), which is advocating a plastic-free Madikeri, Roopa, who had come from Murnad to witness the Dasara celebrations asked.

Some of the mantaps that took the bedecked chariots had blocked the roads passing through the temples two days before the Vijayadashami day. The police remained mute spectators.

This had proved irksome to many who had to take circuitous routes to reach various locations in the city. “Who gave them permission to block roads two days in advance,” asked a local merchant. His business had suffered. Roads leading to a few temples had remained blocked even a day after the celebrations concluded.

Although the traffic police had imposed restrictions on vehicles entering the city after 4 p.m. on Monday, private buses and KSRTC buses could not enter their respective stands as decorated chariots had blocked the way even till Tuesday noon. (more)