A Comparative Geographical Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Baramati and Indapur Cities

Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) has become an important concern in growing urban areas because waste generation increases with population growth, urbanization, and changing consumption patterns. Daily waste is produced from households, markets, shops, institutions, and other commercial activities. If this waste is not properly collected, treated, and disposed of, it can cause serious environmental pollution and health problems. This research paper examines and compares the municipal solid waste management systems of Baramati city and Indapur city in Pune District of Maharashtra. The study is based mainly on secondary data obtained from the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared under the Swachh Maharashtra Mission (Urban) for Baramati Municipal Council (2018) and Indapur Municipal Council (2017). The analysis focuses on major indicators such as total waste generation, waste composition, waste processing technologies, infrastructure facilities, and capital investment.A comparative approach was used to analyze the data. Basic statistical techniques such as percentage analysis, averages, ratios, and tabular comparison were applied to understand the differences in waste generation and management systems between the two cities.The study shows that there is a clear difference in the scale of waste generation. Baramati city generates about 40.05 tonnes of waste per day, while Indapur city generates about 10.10 tonnes per day. The study shows that Baramati has a larger and more advanced waste management system because of higher waste generation and greater financial capacity. Indapur has a smaller system suitable for its moderate level of urban development. Even though the scale of waste management is different, both cities face similar challenges such as improving waste segregation, increasing public awareness, and ensuring long-term operational sustainability.