Poor hygiene, sanitation breed diseases in Haveri

Haveri: Adequate sanitation and personal hygiene are indispensable to fight the coronavirus, and a lack of these can seriously impact the people in Haveri district. While the district administration is creating awareness about hygiene in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Haveri City Municipal Council (CMC) is not doing enough to maintain cleanliness in public places. Garbage is being dumped on most of the roads here, and drains are overflowing.The stray pig and mosquito menace has gotten worse.
The CMC is yet to clear the open drain in front of the Purasiddeshwar Temple, which has been in this state for a year. This big drain has been emitting a foul odour. Moreover, devotees who visit Hukkerimath, also need to close their nostrils, while they are entering this holy place, due to the stench.
“I have requested many times to clear the drain in front of the Purasiddeshwar Temple, but CMC officers are not doing the same. Though I am an elected CMC member, I don’t have any hope that they will clean up the drain,” said Mallanna Satenahalli, who represents this ward in the Haveri CMC.
He said the spread of vector-borne and water-borne diseases are mainly due to poor sanitation in residential areas, and that most of the viral fever cases are reported in urban slums and surrounding areas. “CMC authorities should clear drains across the city, for maintaining sanitation and hygiene,” he demanded.
M S Korishettar, JD (U) leader and president of Haveri Nagarika Vedike, expressed his displeasure over the issue, and said that the Haveri CMC is yet to get an administrative body, so only officials have the power to decide on sanitation and other issues. “The CMC commissioner has neglected this serious issue, even though we have brought it to his notice frequently,” he alleged.
CMC commissioner Basavaraj Jiddi said that the CMC is putting in efforts to maintain sanitation and hygiene in the city. “However, the drain in front of Purasiddeshwar Temple was constructed by the PWD, and it is too deep, and we need equipment to clear it,” he said.