Concerned by the increasing accumulation of solid waste due to sudden tourist influx in high altitude meadows of Bhaderwah in Doda district, Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA) Thursday constituted a task force to ensure cleanliness and implementation of plastic ban at the tourist destinations.
Pertinently, Greater Kashmir, in its July 10 edition, hadcarried a story highlighting the plight of the high altitude meadows due toaccumulation of solid waste, especially that of Padri.
The Chief Executive Officer BDA, Dr Rajinder PrasadKhajuria, constituted a task force on Wednesday comprising of Dr Iftkhar AhmedMalik, Gaja Singh Rana and Aanchal Singh. The team would be led by ExecutiveEngineer Amar Jeet Singh.
Reports said that acting swiftly, the newly formed taskforce, accompanied by police, carried out surprise checks of the vendors atPadri on Thursday and also carried out a cleanliness drive at the high altitudemeadow.
“After media reports about the accumulation of solid wastein high altitude meadows, reportedly due to the non implementation of plasticand disposables ban, we raided all the vendors at Padri meadow and gave themlast warning to maintain cleanliness around their establishments. We also askedthem to immediately stop use of disposables, failing which they will be fined aminimum of Rs 500, besides legal action,” Amar Jeet Singh said.
“Besides requesting tourists to use dustbins and educatingthem about the ill effects on the environment by leaving wrappers anddisposables in the meadows, we also carried out a cleanliness drive and removedall the solid waste and other garbage from Padri meadow,” Singh said,hoping that visitors and locals will also cooperate to make the meadows aplastic-free zone.
The environmentalists and visitors, who raised their concernabout the deteriorating high altitude meadows have suggested a foolproofstrategy and comprehensive approach by all the stakeholders to save the ecologyand environment.
“Enforcement of plastic ban in the high altitude meadows isa welcome step, but sustained efforts with professional and long lastingapproach is required from all the stake holders to save our environment,”Dharam Kant Dogra, an environmentalist and social worker from Bhaderwah, said.
“When we reached here in the morning, we were swept off ourfeet by the breathtaking beauty and mesmerizing weather of Padri. But, we werea little disappointed to see wrappers, disposable plates and cups scattered allaround. Only after a few hours of a cleanliness drive, it looks flawless,”Kanta Chowdhary, a tourist, said.