‘Swachhata Shanivara’: Mega Cleanliness Drive Along Highways and Panchayats in Dakshina Kannada

By Editor

Posted on July 4, 2026

130

'Swachhata Shanivara': Mega Cleanliness Drive Along Highways and Panchayats in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru : A massive cleanliness drive titled ‘Swachhata Shanivara’ (Cleanliness Saturday) was successfully executed across Dakshina Kannada district, breathing new life into waste management at the grassroots level. The campaign saw an aggressive push toward clearing garbage accumulated along various roads and highways within taluk and gram panchayat limits. Leading by example, Taluk Executive Officers actively participated on the ground, rolling up their sleeves alongside volunteers to remove roadside debris.

The comprehensive drive encompassed clearing garbage from both sides of the roads, cutting overgrown grass and weeds, and extracting plastic bottles clogging local water bodies. To instill a sense of long-term civic responsibility, the participants also took a cleanliness pledge and engaged in voluntary community labor (Shramadaan). Taking a tough stance on environmental violations, several panchayats penalized offenders for littering. So far, over 190 such cases have been reported across the district, resulting in the collection of ₹2.90 lakh in fines.

The clean-up operation was simultaneously executed with great success across the taluks of Puttur, Bantwal, Mangaluru, Moodbidri, Mulki, Belthangady, Kadaba, Ullal, and Sullia. A standout feature of the day was witnessed in Kadaba taluk, where nine gram panchayats joined forces to clean up an extensive 45-kilometer stretch of the highway concurrently.

This major initiative was jointly coordinated by the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), Kadaba Taluk Panchayat, Kadaba Town Panchayat, and Mahatma Gandhi Gram Panchayats, with active backing from various local organizations and government departments. The focus of this synchronized effort was the Uppinangady-Subramanya State Highway—a critical route that passes through the Kadaba taluk center and connects to the famous Kukke Shree Subramanya Temple. The intensive cleaning drive spanned multiple jurisdictions, including the panchayats of Koila, Ramakunja, Alankaru, Perabe, Kutrupady, Mardhala, Aithoor, Bilinele, and Subramanya, ensuring a spotless welcome for commuters and pilgrims alike.