Hyderabad is facing a growing problem with garbage burning and illegal dumping, and citizens are raising the alarm. In several neighborhoods, people report seeing trash being set on fire openly. With the summer heat rising, these fires pose serious safety and health risks.
Even though it’s illegal to burn garbage, the practice continues unchecked. Locals are urging the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to step up and collect waste regularly. Piles of uncollected trash are being set on fire, either by frustrated residents or even by sanitation staff themselves.
Many are frustrated by the lack of enforcement. Shivashankar, a resident of Ameerpet, said, “Even after several major fires, people continue to set trash ablaze. Both citizens and GHMC staff seem careless.”
Emergency services are often called in to control these fires. In Saidabad, resident Venkateshwarlu pointed out that irregular garbage collection by Swachh auto tippers is leading to trash build-up. When complaints about mosquitoes increase, sanitation workers often burn the waste instead of removing it.
In another recent case, Shahid Ali from Chaderghat witnessed a sanitation worker lighting garbage under a flyover. The fire spread quickly. “We called the Fire Department immediately, and they arrived just in time to stop it from becoming a disaster,” he said.
Although the Telangana government banned garbage burning in 2017, the law is rarely enforced. Areas like Nagole, Uppal, Yousufguda, Balanagar, Amberpet, Kukatpally, Malakpet, Chaderghat, Santosh Nagar, Yakutpura, Kondapur, Miyapur, Manikonda, and Gachibowli still see frequent burning of waste.
Mohammed Ahmed, a local activist, highlighted that burning garbage can result in fines up to ₹25,000. Yet, due to inconsistent garbage pickup, even municipal workers have taken to burning trash. He also raised concerns about the recent trend of burning fallen trees in public areas.
Social media users have tried to bring attention to the issue. On platform X, many posted about garbage fires. But officials mostly stayed silent. In one instance, after numerous complaints, a GHMC officer finally replied, saying only, “The fire has been doused.”
Residents are urging authorities to act fast. With hotter days ahead, the risk of serious fires and increased pollution continues to grow.
