Heaps of garbage in various localities of Badamibagh Cantonment Board has turned into a health hazard as authorities continue to delay decision on identifying a site for dumping waste generated from these areas.
On an average at least 30 metric ton of waste is produced inthese areas every day, said an official, adding since there has been no garbagecollection for past 56 days at least 1600 metric tons waste was lying on roads,streets and in overflowing dustbins.
Though the Board authorities have repeatedly written todivisional administration about impending crisis and the need for identifyingthe dumping site there has been no progress on the issue.
A source said the divisional administration had decided thatSrinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) dumping site will be used for “some days”by Board for dumping the waste from cantonment areas till alternative site isidentified the SMC in turn didn’t agree.
“What makes things worse is that the SMC refused to lift thegarbage from worst hit areas even after the Board had agreed to bear thecharges,” said Abrar Ahmad, a local of Shivpora.
The worst affected areas like Shivpora, Sonwar, Indra Nagar,Batwara and Athwajan have turned into garbage dump with heaps of waste lyingscattered, not only in residential areas but also in front of many schools andon roads and streets.
Locals said the situation has made people, particularlychildren vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Earlier, Board was using 197 kanals of land as dumping siteat Panthachowk. Subsequently, on the directions of High Court, Board gave upthe land and was provided an alternative land of 55 kanal at village Lethporaas garbage dumping site.
Upendra Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) BadamibaghCantonment Board said from 12 March this year authorities at J&K PoliceCommando Training Centre situated at Lethpora didn’t allow them to dump thegarbage at the site.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary said theSMC lifted garbage from the areas regularly for one month.
However, Upendra Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Badamibagh Cantonment Board contradicted the DC saying the SMC lifted garbageonly twice that too only at GB Pant hospital and Batwara.
“We have sent a fresh written communication to divisionaladministration underscoring the need for providing dumping site,” he said.
Divisional commissioner Kashmir Baseer Khan said the”process” was on to identify the dumping site.