Due to massive urbanization, Solid Waste Management (SWM) is seen as a great challenge in Srinagar city. Huge quantity of garbage gets piled up in Srinagar on daily basis. The way this garbage is stored and disposed off, poses a great risk to our fragile environment. This activity is not only a threat to our environment but it is hazardous to the public health and hygiene as well. The lone garbage dumping site in Srinagar is located at Achen, in the city outskirts. From last almost a decade, the residents living around Achen have been demanding Azadi from this garbage dumping site as the foul smell continues to irritate a huge population in at least one dozen residential areas. The garbage disposal or Solid Waste Management (SWM) is not only a problem for Srinagar city but it is a very serious issue for the people residing in other towns of Kashmir valley as well.
“Trash Towns of Kashmir ”
Garbage disposal in towns:
The way garbage is disposed off in our towns by the local Town Area Committee (TAC) or Municipal Committee (MC) is really an issue of serious concern. I can say with authenticity that most of the garbage that includes harmful biomedical waste, polythene and animal carcasses as well is thrown in the water bodies by the local Municipal Committees. I am myself witness to it. All those Municipal Committees or Town Area Committees which have access to some river, stream or nallah, dispose off the garbage into these water-bodies.
Chadoora Municipality:
In the Chadoora town of Budgam district, the local Municipal Committee disposes off all the garbage into Doodh Ganga Nallah during night time or in the early morning hours. The reason is non availability of garbage dumping site or a scientific Solid Waste Management (SWM) plant in the area. Every day heaps of garbage ,dead animals , polythene etc is thrown into Doodh Ganga at Chadoora and at Kralpora area same water is lifted and supplied to a population of more than 30,000 families. Authorities will argue that water is filtered at Doodh Ganga water filtration plant Kralpora. For God’s sake let the doctors and other people associated with public health and hygiene decide, can simple bleaching and other filtration processes undertaken by Public Health Engineering (PHE) department make this water safe for drinking? Few years back when I sought details under Right to Information Act (RTI) from MC Chadoora about the location of their garbage dumping site in Chadoora town, the answer was “ we have taken up the matter with the higher authorities” . On the other hand I was shocked to know that Municipal Committee Chadoora had collected around Rs 1 Crore as revenue from the local commercial vehicles, shops, business units etc. during financial year 2012. Out of this 1 Crore more than 85 lakhs was spent on the salaries of its employees.
Islamabad, Kulgam, and Sopore:
Last year when I was travelling from Dooru to Srinagar via Islamabad (Anantnag) town, I saw Municipal Committee Anantnag had dumped all the garbage near the bank of “Arpath Kul” which is a fresh water stream flowing through this area. Similarly the MC Sopore throws all the filth into the river Jhelum. Just a few days back while coming from Damhal Hanjipora to Srinagar I saw lorries of Municipal Committee Kulgam dumping all the garbage on the banks of Vishaw Nallah.
I posted the photos on facebook and complained before Deputy Commissioner as well. DC assured me to take action against the erring officials but he is helpless because there is no Solid Waste Management (SWM) facility available in Kulgam. The local Rajya Sabha MP, Nazir Ahmad Laway in his facebook post also assured to look into the issue.
Conclusion:
The authorities need to devise a strategy to overcome the issue of garbage disposal in our towns. I would suggest that Government must immediately allocate funds to at least 15 to 20 towns of J&K where Solid Waste Management (SWM) plants could be installed. This would not only help treat our garbage / biomedical waste at local level but such a move will also help protect our water-bodies also.
