Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) commissioner Dr Shafqat Khan in conversation with INS corresponded Faisal Shabbir.
We have one of the best systems for the disposal of solid waste at Achan. Infact this site has been adjudged as one of the best in the country. We are making use of the latest technology of waste to energy plant at the site.
FS: The recently released Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on September 2014 floods in Kashmir has pointed huge financial irregularities by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) wherein it has pointed that an amount of 31.26 lakh was spent in excess of the payments verified by the respective ward officers during the disposal of garbage and carcasses. How would you react on the said report?
Shaqkat Khan: Whatever queries have been raised by the CAG regarding the financial irregularities if any by the SMC will be suitably addressed. The matter will be suitably looked into. I assure you.
INS: The new Master Plan 2017-2035 envisioned for Srinagar city has already been drafted. How do you see the role of SMC in the implementation of the plan given the reckless pace at which illegal constructions are going on in the city?
SK: The implementation of the master plan isn’t the sole domain of the SMC . Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) and Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) play an equally important part in the implementation of the master plan. As far as illegal constructions in the city are concerned the thing is that bad people wouldn’t stop from their activities but the Srinagar Municipal Corporation wouldn’t hesitate from dismantling the illegal structures wherever they come up.
INS: Some time back the SMC had announced to start a mobile application wherein people can register their complaints and make raise queries. What is the application going to be launched?
SK: We will be launching the application in a few days for the benefit of the common masses.
As far as SMC is concerned we are on the job and seize about 300kgs of polythene on an average from the market daily.
INS: Dog menace has assumed alarming proportions in Srinagar City. People complain that it is difficult to move during the early morning and late evening hours as the streets are filled with numerous stray dogs. What is SMC doing in this regard?
SK: SMC is going to start a massive sterilization programme on stray dogs in collaboration with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and I am hopeful that we will get rid of the menace soon.
INS: Most of the traffic lights installed in the city a few years back at the cost of huge public exchequer have become dysfunctional resulting in massive traffic jams at various junctions throughout the city. What is SMC doing in this regard?
SK: Our job was to install the traffic lights after which we handed them over to the traffic department. It is now the baby of the traffic department and they will be better position to answer about it.
INS: It has been seen that most of the street lights operated by SMC remain open during the day. Can’t a sensor based system based on light be used in these street lights to minimize the wastage of electricity?
SK: Wherever we have installed street lights in the city we have handed over it to the local masjid committees who have been entrusted the responsibility of switching off the lights in their respective areas.
SMC is going to start a massive sterilization programme on stray dogs in collaboration with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
INS: Solid Waste Management is a big issue in Srinagar and the Achan landfill site has become a nuisance causing serious environmental and groundwater pollution according to a recent report of the National Green Tribunal. People living in downtown Srinagar complain of foul smell emanating from the site. How would you respond?
SK: We have one of the best systems for the disposal of solid waste at Achan. Infact this site has been adjudged as one of the best in the country. We are making use of the latest technology of waste to energy plant at the site. As regards to foul smell emanating from the site we are procuring chemicals and disinfectants from outside the state for the proper disposal of the solid waste.
INS: Despite Government orders of ban on polythene, It is still widely being used in the market. What is SMC doing in this regard?
SK: There is a multiple role of different agencies like the Jammu &Kashmir Police, Sales Tax Department, Revenue department for the effective implementation of polythene ban on the ground. There is a need for a coordinated effort among all the departments for the ban. As far as SMC is concerned we are on the job and seize about 300kgs of polythene on an average from the market daily during market inspections.
pictures by: Zargar Zahoor
