Tirupati: Municipal commissioner N. Maurya expressed strong dissatisfaction with the engineering and health wings of the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati regarding the poor waste management along the Alipiri-Cherlopalli road, which links Tirupati to the Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park.
He warned that unchecked dumping of construction debris and food waste on both sides of the road was not only creating sanitation issues but also attracting wild animals, including leopards, putting public safety at risk. “Such negligence is not acceptable on a route that locals and pilgrims frequently use”, she said. Commissioner Maurya directed officials to clear the waste immediately, install CCTV cameras, and deploy night patrol teams to identify and penalise offenders. The official also instructed the removal of unauthorised shops and stressed the need for constant vigilance.
“There should be no waste along the roadside. Cleanliness and vigilance must be a priority”, she warned the officials.
The concerns come in the wake of a leopard attack near the zoo road last week, when a motorist narrowly escaped after the animal pounced on the rear side of his bike. The incident, captured on a dashboard camera of another vehicle, went viral. The leopard retreated into the forest, but the close call has heightened fear among the public.
With the forest cover decreasing along the foothills of Seshachalam near Alipiri, sightings of leopards have increased sharply in recent months. Forest officials have warned nearby institutions, including Sri Venkateswara University, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School, and the Regional Science Centre, to be careful. They have advised motorists to avoid traveling alone on this stretch after dark.
