PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE CITY OF HASSAN, KARNATAKA

The growth and demographic changes occurring in Indian cities are posing a serious challenge to urban local authorities. The increase in per capita income and the concomitant industrial and service activities have resulted in a proportionate increase in consumption and consequently, in the quantum and complexity of the composition of solid waste generated. Hassan city had a population of 155,006 as per the 2011 census. The City municipal Area is 37.57 sq. km, implying a population density of 8550 persons per sq. km in 2011. Hassan produces over 61.71 tonnes of solid waste per day and the Municipal Administration is rather inadequate in managing the disposal of this amount of solid waste generated. The urban planning approach is lacking in perspectives about several socio-economic aspects of solid waste systems; thereby the problems of inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the system remain inadequately addressed. Proper management of solid wastes is an integral part of any attempt at upgrading environmental quality. Keeping this in view, the authors describes the existing situation and identify the shortcomings in various aspects of Solid Waste Management and proposes feasible planning strategies which will make for a cleaner and more aesthetic city, reducing environmental pollution and protecting the quality of groundwater and land resources in the city of Hassan