Adil Lateef
GULMARG, May 12: In absence of garbage dumping site and waste treatment plant, tons of garbage produced from hotels in Gulmarg is dumped in the woods of the tourist destination, posing a grave threat to the environment.
Officials said there are as many as 50 structures – comprising private and government hotels and huts – in the meadows of Gulmarg and they produce a maximum of five tons of garbage everyday. Going by the official figure, the Gulmarg produces nearly 150 tons garbage in a month.
However, there are no landfills where this garbage can be dumped, leave aside waste treatment plant. The workers of local Municipal Committee dump all kinds of garbage which they collect everyday inside the dense woods of Gulmarg and Tangmarg.
The Municipal Committee has been dumping the garbage on pony track of Gulmarg to Baba Reshi which is full of Pine and Deodar trees. As a result, the residents of Baba Reshi said, entire area stinks and several trees spread over the track have dried down over the past few years.
Not only this, but the garbage also mixes with a stream, which is a source of drinking water for inhabitants of dozens of villages including Chhotipathri and thus endangers their lives as threat of outbreak of water-borne diseases always persists. A top official while confirming to Excelsior said that the garbage is dumped on pony track, however, claimed that it is segregated.
Besides pony track, the garbage at times is also thrown down into woods near Gulmarg entrance along roadside and the foul smell and canines become a source of irritation for the visitors including domestic and foreign tourists. The garbage consists of polythene and plastic which adds to the degradation of environment.
Admitting that the Gulmarg has no garbage dumping site on scientific lines, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gulmarg Development Authority, Nazir Ahmad Mir, said the issue would be sorted out soon as solid waste treatment plant is coming up at Kaevnar, seven kilometers from Gulmarg. He said that the land for the site is being transferred to them by Forest Department within a month and after completing formalities they will start the work.
“We have already issued the tenders and after getting NOC from Forest Department besides completing other formalities we will begin the work at on the plant which would be completely on scientific lines,” said the CEO of GDA. Sources said the Forest and Wildlife Departments were allegedly creating hurdles in establishment of waste treatment plant at Kaevnar as they weren’t transferring land to the GDA.
With the establishment of plant, he said, the problem of garbage dumping would come to an end in Gulmarg once for all. “The site is perfect and there would be no implications on the environment of Gulmarg. We have been trying to acquire this place from last three years and finally we are getting it,” said the CEO.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
