Public Spaces, Our Responsibility: Building a Cleaner Mangaluru Together

Public Spaces, Our Responsibility: Building a Cleaner Mangaluru Together

Mangaluru is a city I am happy to see changing for the better. Over the years, I have noticed improvements in the way some public places are maintained. I remember when waste paper, plastic covers, and other rubbish were scattered in many areas. Today, it is encouraging to see less litter in several places. This change gives me hope for the city’s future and reflects growing awareness of our collective responsibility towards the environment. With continued effort and cooperation, Mangaluru can become an even cleaner and more beautiful city.

A clean and pleasant environment benefits everyone and makes our city a place we can be proud of. However, cleanliness cannot be achieved through occasional campaigns alone. It requires consistent action by citizens, businesses, community organisations and local authorities.

Every citizen can make a difference through simple, practical steps. Carry reusable bags when shopping, avoid single-use plastics wherever possible, segregate wet and dry waste at home, and hand it over to the authorised collection service. Never throw rubbish onto roads, footpaths or vacant plots, and never dump waste into drains or water bodies. If you see someone littering, politely encourage them to use a dustbin or dispose of the waste responsibly.

Shopkeepers and commercial establishments should keep the areas outside their premises clean and ensure that waste is disposed of properly. Apartment associations and residential communities can place suitable waste bins, coordinate with waste collectors, and organise regular checks of their surroundings. Residents can also work together to identify neglected public spaces and bring them to the attention of the authorities.

During the monsoon, waste dumped in drains can cause blockages and waterlogging. Citizens should promptly report overflowing bins, illegal dumping, blocked drains, and uncollected waste to the concerned authorities. Photographs, the exact location, and the date of the complaint can help officials identify and address the problem. Residents should follow up on unresolved complaints rather than assuming that someone else will take responsibility.

Local authorities, too, must fulfil their responsibilities. They should ensure regular waste collection, maintain drains, provide adequate dustbins in busy public areas and take timely action against illegal dumping. Public toilets, parks, bus shelters and footpaths must be kept clean, safe and accessible. Waste collection schedules and complaint mechanisms should be clearly communicated to residents. Authorities should also monitor whether complaints have been resolved and ensure that public spaces remain clean after maintenance work is completed.

Public facilities require regular upkeep, and a reasonable user fee may be considered for certain amenities where appropriate. However, such charges should be transparent and affordable, and they should not prevent economically disadvantaged people from accessing essential public facilities.

Children learn from the examples set by adults. Parents should teach them not to litter, while schools and colleges can introduce practical activities such as campus clean-ups, waste segregation and neighbourhood awareness campaigns. Residents’ associations, youth clubs and voluntary organisations can organise monthly clean-up drives, but these should complement regular civic services rather than replace them.

What can we do starting today?

• At home: Segregate waste and reduce the use of disposable plastic.In our neighbourhood: Keep the area outside our homes and shops clean, and encourage neighbours to do the same.
• In public places: Use designated bins and never leave litter behind after visiting parks, beaches, bus stands, or other public spaces.
• When we spot a problem: Report illegal dumping, overflowing bins, and blocked drains to the relevant authorities, and follow up when necessary.
• As a community: Choose one neglected public space, work with local authorities to improve it, and help ensure it stays clean.
• As responsible citizens: Appreciate sanitation workers, cooperate with waste collection teams, and encourage others to adopt good practices.

The improvements I have noticed in Mangaluru give me confidence that further progress is possible. But we should not become complacent simply because some areas look cleaner today. The real measure of success is whether our streets, drains, parks and public spaces remain clean throughout the year, not just during special campaigns or visits by officials.

Let us begin with our homes, extend our efforts to our neighbourhoods and work with local authorities to address larger civic problems. We should not wait for someone else to act when there is something that we can do ourselves. At the same time, citizens must be able to expect efficient waste collection, proper infrastructure and accountability from those responsible for maintaining the city.

A cleaner Mangaluru begins with individual responsibility and grows through collective action. If every resident takes a few practical steps each day and every public authority fulfils its duties, we can build a city that is cleaner, healthier, and more welcoming. Let us turn our concern for Mangaluru into everyday action and leave behind public spaces that future generations will be proud to inherit.

About the Author

V. Rajesh Mohan Rao is a higher secondary commerce teacher from Dharmadam, Thalassery, Kerala, India. He writes about society, culture, language, and personal memories.