Sopore: If you still believe Sopore is ‘chota London’ you are wrong. It’s an ‘open garbage bin’. All thanks to district authorities the apple town has no garbage dumping site, adding to it, all the waste produced is dumped by the bank of River Jhelum.
While two sites were identified for dumping garbage produced including non-biodegradable waste, especially polythene and plastic ‘political intervensions’ have added to the people’s woes.
Sources however in the district administration say ‘no order for demarcating these sites was passed or issued. It was an eye wash. Don’t irritate Sopore for obvious reasons’.
“When garbage was taken to dump on these sites non only the surrounding population erupted against the move but at one site even forces raised objection,” disclosed sources, who claimed that ‘they couldn’t coerce the orders because there was no paper work so it was just let go’.
TulBal, and Adipora areas were first identified for the proposed dumping site but when municipal council approached the area with the garbage they had to face stiff resistance from people.
‘Both the areas are politically affiliated and hence the proposal went to cold storage. After facing protests, district administration, organized a meeting with elder citizens of Sopore promising site soon. As a soother they allocated street lights, majority of which don’t work,” sources said.
The municipal committee after collecting the garbage from town dumps it in front of Main Bazaar, bank of Jehlum in Chankhan, and Shalimar Colony.
In October Additional District commissioner, Khursheed Ahmad Shah told a local newspaper that the dumping site has been identified in Watayen, Langate and it will take one month to get finalized.
However the problem persists in the Sopore with garbage still being dumped at scattered places of the ‘chota london’ and sources inside district administration claiming that ‘no order in this regard has been passed till now’.
“What swach bharat are they claiming. Sopore has been turned into garbage bin, they are polluting our waters,” President of Traders Federation Sopore, Haji Mohd Ashraf Ganie told INS.
“We have repeatedly urged authorities to not dump garbage at these places as it poses a health hazard to population.Only after an epidemic breaks out they will come and give us lectures on cleanliness,” Ganaie rued.
Ganaie told INS that ‘authorities always promise action’ but ‘have failed always’.
“Despite land being identified as dumping site, Why don’t they work on that?,” Ganaie questioned.
Executive officer Muncipal Council Sopore Miteen Ahmad said, ‘this is a serious concern and people of Sopore are fighting for this cause since years’.
“Our efforts are on for making Sopore a Garbage Free town,” Miteen said.
Deputy commissioner Asif Naqash denied commenting on the issue saying, “I don’t know about it, you better talk to ADC’, before hanging the call.
Member of Legislative Assembly Haji Abdul Rashid Dar claimed that its better to talk to Additional DC to know what is the status of work regarding identified dumping site.
The ADC despite various attempts did not respond to calls.
Representative of Sangrama and Sopore constituencies entered into a verbal brawl in the Assembly too over the issue.
