Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 8: The stinking waste mounds surrounding the Pulwama ring road in South Kashmir and the Sunarpora area of Ganderbal district have sparked discontent among locals, business owners, and students due to the serious threats they pose to health and safety.
These garbage heaps exemplify the inadequate solid waste management practices in the areas. Despite authorities covering the yard with a tin sheet in Pulwama, the pile of trash remains prominently visible from the heavily used road. Meanwhile, in the Sunarpora area of Ganderbal, scattered garbage obstructs the movement of residents heading towards their orchards.
In Pulwama, residents voiced their concerns about the uncontrolled rubbish accumulating on the road, highlighting its particularly hazardous impact on neighbouring shopkeepers. The noxious odour poses a severe health risk, deterring customers from visiting establishments such as tea shops. “No one is coming to my tea shop because of the bad stench, which deters people from coming here for tea. These days, I hardly earn anything. I request the administration to relocate this trash heap,” Bashir Ahmad, a tea stall owner, said. He further emphasised that the issue of irrational open dumping on agricultural land has been raised with authorities, but no action has been taken.
Residents of Sunarpora alleged that despite the presence of a segregation shed in the area, block officials continue to dump garbage along the roadside. “This poses a threat to the locals, with a significant number of dogs near the garbage, leading to recent incidents of dog bites,” Nasreena, a local, said. She added that there were concerns about the potential spread of viral diseases, and they requested administration to address the problem.
Residents from both areas emphasised that stray animals, including dogs and birds, are attracted to the trash, creating safety concerns, particularly for women and children.
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