The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) made a remarkable effort to keep the city’s cultural venues immaculate during the recent Dasara festivities by deploying an extra 500 sanitation workers. This substantial reinforcement ensured that all celebration spaces remained spotless and welcoming for the throngs of visitors.
These 500 additional sanitation heroes joined the MCC’s existing team of approximately 1,675 workers, who are diligently responsible for daily door-to-door garbage collection and maintaining the cleanliness of city streets year-round.
According to MCC officials, the decision to bring in extra “pourakarmikas” (sanitation workers) was absolutely crucial. The 11-day festival sees an immense surge in visitors, and managing the resulting waste required an amplified response.
The additional staff were strategically deployed in various shifts, guaranteeing a continuous 24/7 cleaning operation. This round-the-clock commitment meant that all venues were consistently cleaned and prepared for the next day’s events, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone.
A significant portion of these dedicated workers focused their efforts on areas in and around the iconic Mysore Palace, which naturally attracted the highest number of visitors, and Maharaja’s College Ground, the bustling hub of the Aahara Mela (food festival). To further support their work, around 60 extra vehicles were mobilized specifically for transporting the increased volume of garbage generated during the celebrations, as explained by K.S. Mruthyunjaya, Assistant Executive Engineer at MCC.
Normally, Mysuru produces about 500 to 550 tons of waste daily. However, during the Dasara festival, an astounding additional 60 to 70 tons of waste were collected, highlighting the immense challenge these workers faced.
In preparation for the grand festival, the MCC proactively engaged with various civic groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and concerned citizens. These meetings aimed to foster a collaborative spirit, seeking to build a strong voluntary base for a community-led cleanliness drive, all with the goal of proudly presenting Mysuru as a clean and green city.
Beyond deploying more personnel and machinery for the festive period, the initiative also involved extensive information, education, and communication campaigns. These efforts encouraged residents and visitors alike to actively participate in keeping the city clean and to avoid littering.
Maintaining impeccable cleanliness throughout Dasara was indeed a formidable undertaking, especially given the unexpectedly high turnout of visitors and the numerous event venues scattered across the city.
While the Aahara Mela was the primary source of waste, countless food stalls and kiosks at other locations also contributed significantly to the sanitation challenges faced by the pourakarmikas.
Despite the demanding nature of the work, officials commend the seamless coordination between the regular and additional staff, which ultimately ensured the overall cleanliness and success of the festival.
City NGOs have emphasized that maintaining a high standard of cleanliness is a shared responsibility that extends beyond festival periods. They advocate for these cleanliness efforts to be an ongoing and continuous process, benefiting Mysuru residents and visitors throughout the year.