Waste dumping on vacant plots triggers health fears in Navanagar

Hubballi: Most empty sites in Nava Nagar turned into waste dumping grounds, raising health concerns among residents. Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) launched cleaning drives for empty sites and imposed a fee for cleanliness on property ID, but it failed to clean them. One site turned into a jungle, and there was waterlogging across another entire site. Residents raised health concerns and urged the civic body to clean the sites at the earliest.Waste was dumped at various vacant sites in Panchakshri Nagar, Amar Nagar and near behind Karnataka State Law University. The areas are major places and largely densely populated. Waste was also dumped at 14th cross near Ishwar Temple, surrounding the HDMC Zone 4 office and other offices. Waste materials and construction waste items were dumped. There are many paying guest facilities and rooms provided for outsiders. In most cases, students dumped waste during night time and morning hours.Rajeshwari Mashannavar, a resident of Navanagar, said throwing waste at empty sites is a health concern. She said mixed waste will give way to mosquito breeding. She said weeds and trees were disturbing residents, and children playing on the street will be affected due to waste on empty sites. She urged HDMC to take action to clean the open sites.Sunita Malavadakar, corporator of HDMC Ward No. 27, said dumping waste at empty sites was rampant in twin cities. She said outsiders staying in paying guests and rooms were throwing waste, while locals were handing over waste to the vehicle coming for door-to-door collection. She said students in these areas keep dumping waste in the open. She said: "I have informed HDMC officials to clear the waste and charge the property ID. Empty plots will be cleaned very soon." Santosh Yarangalli, executive engineer, HDMC's solid waste management department, said, "The HDMC launched special empty sites cleanliness drive. We cleared the sited and added charged to the owners PID. The sites in Navanagar and surrounding areas will be cleaned at the earliest," he said.