Sir,
This refers to editorial titled Tourist Resorts and Botched Roads (DE 19.7.2019). Not only have most of our tourist resorts messy roads but the Tourism department is yet to create scientific waste management facilities around these places. Inpsite of the fact that some machines to treat plastic and other non biodegradable waste have been installed at some tourist destinations but they are not operational with the result tonnes of garbage is lying scattered at tourist places such as Patnitop , Mansar , Doodh Pathri , Yusmarg and many other places. Even Baderwah is full of trash these days due to huge inflow of tourists but the local authorities especially Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA) is unable to do anything.
Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) procured a huge machine almost 2 years back for Rs 60 lakhs or more called Magnetic Disintegrator which treats Non-Biodegradable waste and other waste material like plastic polythene, wood , old garments etc. The machine is yet to be made operational. Yusmarg Development Authority (YDA) recently procured this machine but it is not made operational and all the trash generated in Yusmarg is dumped in local forest area.
Doodh Pathri area of Budgam has no waste management system in operation. At an average 5000 to 6000 tourists visit this place from May to October , but sanitation of the area is very weak. The road from Srinagar to Doodhpathri via Arigam and Mujpathri needs repairs especially from Raiyar to Doodh Pathri patch (7 kms) . Srinagar Yusmarg road also needs repairs from Chadoora to Charar Sharief and Yusmarg.
All the Tourism Development Authorities must be directed by Govt to implement Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 (SWM Rules 2016) without any delay. The state level committee headed by Justice (Retired) Janak Raj Kotwal constituted by National Green Tribunal (NGT) to monitor implementation of SWM Rules 2017 must seek regular feedback from Tourism department as well in addition to Municipal institutions of the state.
Raja Muzaffar Bhat
on e-mail
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