Heaps of garbage in Srinagar despite Task Force

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Srinagar, Nov 2: Despite setting up of a Task Force (TF) for clearance of the waste in the summer capital, Srinagar, heaps of garbage could still be seen at different places in the city.

The reasons for non clearance of the garbage from the city by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) were not immediately clear.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra had on October 29 ordered setting up of a TF for the clearance of garbage in the Srinagar city where about 300 Metric Tonnes of the solid waste was being collected everyday from different parts of the city by the SMC.

The trouble started last month when the residents of the Achan in the outskirts of the city, where the waste was being dumped, were up in arms against the SMC for its failure to treat the waste before dumping it there. About 50 people, including officials of the SMC, police personnel were injured in clashes with local residents after they did not allow the corporation to dump the garbage there last week.

Thousands of tonnes of garbage remained on roads for about a week before the SMC finally dumped there after taking the help from police and security forces who sealed the entire area during the dumping.

One could see heaps of garbage on roads, including the historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, Exchange road being used by hundreds of girls students, Batmaloo, Natipora and other areas.

However, Mr Vohra taking cognisance of the continuing reports about problems relating to the clearance of garbage in the city issued instructions for taking a number of steps to avoid any such incidents in future. He directed that construction of a bridge to be completed by March next year to enable the SMC to move solid waste trucks through the Bypass Road, to ensure against any irritation to the residents of the area.

The alternate road would also be a short cut to the garbage dumping site.

The Governor directed the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) to undertake the development of the land-fill-site in order to treat and dispose off the solid waste scientifically.

He also instructed that a massive plantation drive be launched around the land-fill-area which would serve as a buffer.

The SMC would also augment this initiative in consultation with the State Forest Department.

Mr Vohra sought urgent execution of all these works and said no vested interest should be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere by resorting to aggressive measures.

He said the initiative was aimed at providing respite to the locals, as also ensuring cleanliness of the capital city of Srinagar.

He ordered the setting up of a task-force for monitoring the garbage clearance in the city. The Chief Secretary, Mr S S Kapur, would be taking further action in this regard in the next few days.

The Governor also directed the concerned agencies to identify additional dumping sites for solid waste disposal in view of the fast expansion of the city. He called for formulating a perspective plan in this regard.

He also urged the concerned agencies to launch a massive public awareness drive, educating the people on the solid waste management.

He urged the Chief Executive Officer, ERA, to monitor, on daily basis, the progress on the construction of the bridge and development of the site on scientific lines.

UNI

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