Fire Breaks Out at Davangere’s Solid Waste Disposal Unit
Davangere: A fire broke out at the solid waste disposal unit in Avaragolla on Tuesday night, quickly spreading to a large pile of garbage. The blaze triggered panic among residents of Avaragolla village. Fire and Emergency Services, along with the City Corporation’s environmental team, worked overnight to bring the fire under control by 6:00 AM on Wednesday.
The disposal unit, spread across 33 acres, has been accumulating waste since 2004, with nearly 2.5 lakh tons of waste collected, including approximately 170 tons daily. The unit processes organic waste, but a fire had previously broken out in May at the same location.
The incident has sparked frustration among the villagers, who have long complained about the odor from the garbage pile. The fire has further exacerbated their dissatisfaction with the City Corporation.
Mayor K. Chaman Saab expressed concern over the contractor’s negligence, blaming delays in waste segregation and disposal processes. A contractor from Andhra Pradesh was awarded a ₹20 crore tender for waste management but has failed to address the task adequately despite multiple notices.
Following the fire, Deputy Commissioner G.M. Gangadharswamy visited the site and instructed officials to begin waste segregation and disposal without delay, aiming to complete the task within six months. He emphasized the importance of implementing fire safety measures, including installing CCTV cameras, establishing 24-hour surveillance, and ensuring the availability of a water pipeline for fire emergencies.
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