Dharwad: Environmentalists and members of Parisara Samrakshana Samiti along with International Foundation for Empowerment and Social Justice have raised their voice against heaps of solid waste dumped near Hosayallapur impacting the lives of residents in surrounding areas in Dharwad.
The 16-acre area coming under ward no. 20, adjoining Hindu and Muslim graveyards has been the centre for dumping solid waste collected from different wards in city. This area was turned into a dumping yard decades ago, since it was considered to be the outskirts of the city. Now with the growing population in the area many layouts have come up around the dumping yard and the residents are very much affected by the foul smell emanating from the garbage, besides the smoke raised by the unscientific burning of waste.
Lakshminagar, Daneshwarnagar, Jannatnagar, Chapparband Colony, Lidkar Colony, JSS College, Yalakki Shettar Colony, Vivekanandnagar, Hubballi Tollnaka are among those localities which are very much affected by this garbage menace.
Environmentalists who visited the area urged the district administration to shift this dumping yard to nearby Shivalli village where a garbage treatment plant has been set up.
They have warned of holding protests if the authorities did not respond to their plea.
Reacting on the burning of garbage which was polluting the environment, the Hubballi Dharwad Muncipal Corporation (HDMC) Commissioner Siddalingaiah Hiremath said a borewell facility was provided at the site to douse the fire.
Environmentalists Vasanth Arkachar, Jagadish Ghodake and others were present.
