Mangaluru : Harinath, the new Mayor of Mangaluru, wants to put an end to the plastic menace in the city and build either an underpass or an overpass at Karnataka Polytechnic (KPT) Junction on NH 66.

Addressing the media after the election, he said that people would have to cooperate to end the plastic menace. Mr. Harinath said that the intensity of the menace would be known if people visited the solid waste management compost site at Pachchanady. He said that the government had taken a step to end the menace all over the State.

The Mayor said that he would soon discuss the matter with all stakeholders and councillors to take a decision on the steps to be taken for the purpose.

He said he was appealing people to reduce the use of plastic carry bags.

Mr. Harinath, who lost a chance of becoming Mayor in 1999 after the Congress made him to withdraw his nomination papers, said that there was a need to build either an underpass or an overpass at KPT Junction as about 4,000 vehicles, especially to the airport, used this road. The Mayor said that the civic body would provide free ambulance service to people. Initially an ambulance, hired one, would be pressed into service for helping needy in the jurisdiction of the corporation. Mr. Harinath said that drains for nine concrete roads were being built now. The old underground drainage network in old Mangaluru would be replaced using grants from Union and State governments.

Vacant stalls at the newly built Bejai market would be auctioned on March 28. There are about 35 stalls in the building.

In addition, the corporation would build a market at Kavoor.