Mysuru, 10 October

Residents across several localities in Mysuru have been struggling to open their windows, eat meals at home or get a peaceful night's sleep for the past week as an unbearable foul smell from the Vidyaranyapuram Sewage Treatment Plant disrupts their daily lives and raises concerns over possible health risks.

The stench has affected residents of J P Nagar, Vidyaranyapuram, Gunduraonagar, Kanakagiri, Ashokapuram, Kuvempunagar, Chamundipuram and adjoining areas, with elderly people, children and those suffering from illnesses among the worst affected. Residents have also reported breathing difficulties and other respiratory problems, allegedly linked to poor waste handling and disposal at the plant.

According to residents, the odour has intensified suddenly over the past week, despite no similar complaints over the previous three years. This has raised suspicions about the recent dumping of animal waste in the area, alongside general garbage, without proper scientific disposal.

The problem has also affected college students, apartment dwellers and people attending functions at wedding halls in the surrounding localities.

Following repeated complaints from residents, former Krishnaraja MLA M K Somashekhar visited the plant on Saturday and questioned Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) officials over their failure to address the problem.

He said the indiscriminate dumping of animal waste and inadequate waste management had severely disrupted residents' lives and demanded immediate corrective measures.

Somashekhar also spoke to MCC Commissioner M K Savitha over the phone, urging her to direct the agencies concerned to stop the foul smell, prevent indiscriminate animal waste dumping and introduce bioculture methods to control the odour.

He called for swift action to resolve the issue and protect residents from continued discomfort and potential health hazards.