Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 29: For nearly a year now, the authorities of Kashmir University have been dumping construction waste at the rear side of the campus in Naseem Bagh, renowned for its pristine landscapes.
Some students and concerned individuals informed Excelsior that the dumping process has been ongoing for a while and has led to the defacement of the entire area.
“There are several spots in Naseem Bagh where waste has been dumped for almost a year now, resulting in the area’s defacement; there is the Fine Arts Department as well as residential quarters,” a student, wishing anonymity, remarked.
The students mentioned their opposition to the dumping of such waste, primarily from construction sites and landscape cleaning across the campus, on several occasions.
“However, every time, we were informed that they have been instructed to do so and that there is no alternative dumping site,” they added.
It is worth noting that the Naseem Bagh area of the KU campus features several majestic Chinar trees and picturesque landscapes, typically utilized by university-goers for leisure, making it stand out from the rest of the campus.
The ongoing and unchecked waste dumping has caused damage to the landscape, prompting students to urge KU authorities to address the issue and ensure immediate cessation of dumping activities.
“Whenever there is construction work, waste is dumped here; whenever the landscapes are cleaned, waste is brought here for dumping; it must be stopped and whatever has accumulated here must be shifted somewhere else,” the students explained.
Vice-Chancellor, KU did not respond to repeated calls from ‘Excelsior’, while officers from the concerned department were also unavailable for comment on the issue.