A new Mangaluru waste management initiative will seek to prevent waste from reaching the sea through the Falguni, Nandini and Shambhavi rivers by developing village-level systems across more than 50 villages in their watersheds.
The initiative will be presented during the national-level Green Dialogue conference, scheduled for January 6 and 7, 2027, alongside the Alvas Virasat–Nudisiri conference organised by the Alvas Education Foundation from January 6 to 10. More than 800 people are expected to participate in the Green Dialogue, according to foundation president Dr M. Mohan Alva.
Speaking at a press conference, Alva said the programme would focus on coastal environmental protection, scientific waste management and the creation of sustainable ecosystems through community participation. The proposed model includes waste segregation, collection, scientific processing and recycling at the village level.
The foundation plans to work with gram panchayats, local organisations and residents in the river basins. The stated objective is to increase community participation in environmental protection through discussions and local engagement rather than relying only on downstream clean-up measures.
The programme will also involve school and college students through a proposed Chota COP initiative. Activities will include a clean village competition, an environmental awareness reels contest, student activities and awareness programmes.
A clean village award will be given to a village that successfully prevents plastic waste from entering a river. Students who make a special contribution to environmental protection will receive Waste Warriors awards, Alva said.
The announcement places local waste handling at the centre of a wider coastal pollution challenge. The proposed approach will depend on how consistently waste is segregated, collected, processed and recycled across participating villages, as well as on coordination between panchayats, community groups and residents. Further details of the participating villages and implementation arrangements were not provided in the announcement.
