Mangaluru : As part of Swacch Bharat campaign and  account of World Environment Day on June 5, Zilla Panchayat has identified five routes on state and national highways in Mangaluru and Bantwal where people dump garbage and cleanliness drives will be conducted by 38 gram panchayats.

Chairing a meeting convened to discuss preparations to observe World Environment Day on Thursday, Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer (CEO) Dr M R Ravi said that the gram Ppanchayats should take measures toprevent pollution and create awareness among people to dispose of waste scientifically. They should work towards extending Swacch Bharat programme to rural areas as well, the chief executive officer said.

He called upon the local organisations to extend support to the programme. The district has a long way to go in creating awareness against waste disposal on highways in the district, he said. Around 60 to 70 tonne of waste is found disposed on national highways, the chief executive officer said.

Zilla Panchayat deputy secretary N R Umesh said as observed by the patrolling team, maximum quantity of garbage is found on five routes.

They fall in the jurisdiction of Someshwar-Talapady, Munnur-Belma-Konaje-Manjanadi-Kurnadu, Adyar-Neermarga-Pudu-Thumbe-Kallige-Golthamajalu, Gurupura-Kandavara-Ganjimutt-Paduperara-Edapadavu-Kuppepadavu-Badaga Edapadavu and Puttige-Bajpe-Malavoor gram panchayats.

Cleanliness camp will be conducted on Environment Day on June 5 at 35 locations identified in gram panchayat limits. The waste collected will be dumped in the dumping yard in Pacchanadi. Ramakrishna Mutt seer Ekagamyananda Swami was present on the occasion.