The twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad are grappling with a severe sanitation crisis, as mounds of garbage have transformed several prominent localities into open dumpyards over the past few days. This has triggered widespread public anger, despite the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) claiming to have pressed more than 270 of its own garbage collection vehicles into service, supplemented by additional outsourced units.
Locations Overwhelmed by Waste
The failure of the civic body's cleanup drive is visibly evident across the city. Major junctions and public spaces within the municipal limits have become eyesores with accumulating waste. Specific areas heavily affected include Deshpande Nagar, the road alongside Ashoknagar railway tracks, the vicinity near the KMC-RI back gate, Pintos Circle, Nehru Stadium, and the busy Station Road.
In a telling example of the problem, a vacant plot next to Durga Vilas Hotel has been converted into an unofficial dumping ground. Hotels, eateries, and commercial establishments are allegedly discarding their waste there regularly, adding to the civic mess.
Construction Debris Disrupts Traffic in Akshay Colony
The situation is particularly dire in Akshay Colony, where large quantities of construction debris have been illegally dumped. The rubble is so extensive that it has obstructed the road, making it difficult for motorists to pass through and disrupting the normal flow of traffic.
Expressing his frustration, Naveen Hulkoti, a motorist from Hubballi, highlighted the traffic woes caused by the debris and urged the civic authorities to take strict action against those responsible. Echoing the sentiment, Vinod Hukkeri, a resident of Akshay Colony, called for Hubballi-Dharwad to be made a garbage-free city and appealed to the HDMC to clean up the area at the earliest.
HDMC's Response and Public Outcry
While the HDMC maintains that it has taken steps to clear the garbage, residents allege significant lapses in timely clearance and overall waste management. Municipal officials stated that they have tried deterrents like painting walls and drawing rangoli at several spots to discourage dumping, but these measures have failed to curb the practice.
Officials pointed out that indiscriminate dumping is rampant during the early-morning hours, coinciding with the time many residents step out for walks or jogs. This turns open public spaces into unsightly and unhygienic dumpyards.
Addressing the specific issue in Akshay Colony, Bhagyashree Huggi, the HDMC Zone-5 zonal assistant commissioner, confirmed that both household waste and construction debris are being dumped there. She assured that the area would now be under close surveillance. "A health inspector has been dispatched for spot inspection," Huggi stated, signaling a renewed effort to tackle the problem spot.
The growing piles of waste not only pose a significant public health hazard but also undermine the city's cleanliness and aesthetic appeal, leading to calls for a more efficient and permanent solution from the municipal corporation.
