Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 11: Residents of Pulwama town in South Kashmir today protested against the dumping of garbage along the ring road, calling it a public nuisance and a growing health hazard.
Scores of locals, including shopkeepers and students, assembled at the site and raised slogans against what they termed as improper and unchecked dumping of waste. They said the growing piles of garbage emit a foul smell and pose a severe threat to public health. “This stench has made our lives miserable. My child is suffering from a severe infection because of the bad smell. We have repeatedly urged the authorities to relocate the dumping site and adopt a scientific method for waste disposal. Bringing garbage from across town and simply dumping it here is a cruel joke on sanitation,” a protestor said.
The protestors said the waste mound, located amidst apple orchards and just 10-15 meters from a government women’s college near the highway, has turned into a major safety and health concern. “Students are suffering terribly. If immediate action is not taken, it could lead to a serious health crisis,” said another local, who added that the site has also rendered a newly constructed shopping complex unusable.
Residents said repeated complaints over the dumping of residential waste on agricultural land have been ignored. “The entire ecosystem is at risk. The Government must implement a scientific recycling system to manage domestic waste,” said another protestor, Hassan.
They also noted that the garbage heap has attracted stray dogs and birds, further endangering students. “The presence of stray dogs makes students feel unsafe. Authorities must at least ensure their safety,” a resident added.
Local businesses, too, are suffering. “The foul smell drives away customers. Hardly anyone comes to my tea stall anymore, and my income has dropped sharply,” said Bashir Ahmad, a local vendor. He said the matter was brought to the attention of the local MLA but nothing has been done so far.
Residents blamed municipal officials for turning the area into an open dumping ground. “The stench is unbearable, especially for the elderly, who are already struggling with breathing issues,” locals said.
The protest later ended peacefully after the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) assured residents that no further waste would be dumped at the site and acknowledged their concerns. However, the residents and shopkeepers warned they would launch a larger agitation if the dumping is not stopped permanently, saying the administration would be solely responsible for the consequences.
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