Curation Team
HUBBALLI: The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) plans to implement systematic cleaning operations across open plots in both the cities to prevent waterlogging and potential health hazards during the upcoming rainy season. These neglected sites have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and are shelters for stray animals.
The corporation will deploy sanitation teams with necessary machines to clear overgrown shrubs, remove accumulated waste, and level the ground where needed. Each zone will be covered once every week as per the new action plan. The team will focus on sites that pose immediate threat to public health and safety.
The idea was chalked out after looking at the complaints and increasing mosquito menace in the open sites. Even in a recent phone-in programme with mayor Ramanna Badiger, many residents raised the same concern.
The HDMC identified several priority locations including abandoned plots near residential areas and sites that have turned into dumping yards, where immediate intervention is required.
The civic body will also issue notices to private plot owners, asking them to maintain their properties, and those who fail to comply may face penalties under relevant municipal regulations.
Additionally, the corporation plans to create a database of problematic sites and track their maintenance regularly. This systematic approach aims to ensure sustained cleanliness rather than one-time clearing operations.
The initiative is part of the corporation’s broader strategy to improve public health and sanitation standards across Hubballi-Dharwad. Regular monitoring mechanisms will be put in place to assess the effectiveness of these cleaning drives and make necessary adjustments to the action plan.
HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali outlined plans for implementing a weekly cleaning initiative across Hubballi-Dharwad. The proposed schedule designates Tuesdays for mass cleaning operations. The administration has also decided to serve notices to owners of open plots, mandating them to maintain their empty sites. In cases owners fail to comply, HDMC personnel will undertake the cleaning, and the associated costs will be to their respective property identification numbers.
