Waste management gap widens between urban and rural Dharwad

Dharwad: Solid waste management has emerged as a growing civic challenge for urban local bodies in Dharwad district, with the situation far more acute in cities than in rural areas.Within the limits of the HDMC, delays in clearing accumulated garbage at landfill sites have triggered serious health and environmental concerns. A major incident in March, when a landfill on the outskirts of Dharwad caught fire, underscored the severity of the problem. Thick, toxic fumes from the blaze blanketed nearby neighbourhoods, leaving residents grappling with breathing difficulties and mounting frustration over delayed response from authorities.The fire, believed to have been caused by a chemical reaction within the waste heap, rendered the air nearly unbreathable for several days. Families were forced to keep doors and windows shut to avoid exposure to the smoke. Children and the elderly were the worst affected, with many reporting persistent coughing, throat irritation, and respiratory distress. Eye irritation and skin discomfort were also widely reported.Civic issues have been compounded by apathy of residents in several areas who dump waste in vacant plots along roadsides, further aggravating health risks. Official data reveals that 467.2MT of waste is generated daily in urban local bodies across the district, of which, 425MT comes from HDMC alone. In comparison, rural areas under 146 gram panchayats generate 7.8MT per day. While close to 358.9MT of urban waste is collected and processed on the same day. About 109MT waste remains unaddressed, leading to accumulation and added pressure on civic systems.Authorities claim that waste collection efficiency stands at around 90% in rural areas and 80% in urban regions. Efforts to tackle legacy waste have shown progress, with 53,443MT cleared from 12 acres of land across the district. About 3.8 lakh MT of the estimated 4.8 lakh MT of legacy waste has been processed in Hubballi-Dharwad.HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali said 622 garbage ‘blackspots' have been identified across the twin cities. These locations, previously used for indiscriminate dumping, have now been fenced and fitted with warning boards. Door-to-door garbage collection has been intensified, with nearly 80% residents complying. However, officials note that around 20% households still fail to segregate wet and dry waste, leading to refusal of collection services.On the resource recovery front, HDMC has made strides in converting waste into manure, selling around 1,000 MT through Bhoo Samruddhi bonds at Rs 10 per kg. Surplus waste is supplied to cement kilns as fuel.The district currently operates 144 garbage collection vehicles in rural areas and 380 tippers in Hubballi-Dharwad, including outsourced units. Additionally, a scientific waste recycling facility has been established at Lakamanahalli under the Swachh Bharat Mission, aiming to strengthen sustainable waste management practices.