Sir,
This refers to your editorial ” Environmental Issues ” (DE Feb 22nd). As you have touched the issue of road widening on National Highway and subsequent dust emitting from the construction site, in this regard, I would like to add that in addition to dust which is causing health hazards , un scientific disposal of solid waste on the national highway by Municipal Committees of Udhampur and Ramban is also a matter of serious concern. In absence of a scientific landfill site the Municipal Committees of Udhampur and Ramban are forced to throw the municipal solid waste in forest areas which is close to two important water-bodies i.e, the Tawi and the Chenab. The solid waste and leachate oozing out of it gets mixed with the water and same water is lifted by PHE and supplied to surrounding areas of Udhampur or Ramban district .
If Municipal Committees of Udhampur / Ramban do not follow the Municipal Solid Waste Rules 2016 , within 2 to 3 years this open dumping of waste will lead to a mega disaster in shape of some epidemic. I am sure if a survey is undertaken by Social and Preventive Medicine Department of GMC Jammu , there would be hundreds of cases of gastrointestinal cases in Ramban and Udhampur areas and the reason is will be intake of contaminated water.
I appeal Director Urban Local Bodies Jammu to initiate door to door collection of garbage in segregated manner in all the municipal wards of Ramban and Udhampur. In addition to it, organic waste converters can be set up to process the organic waste thus reducing the 70 percent of waste which otherwise is dumped in the open and is the main cause of foul smell and epidemic. Rest of the 30 percent plastic waste can be either recycled or converted into Refused Derived Fuel (RDF).
Yours etc….
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat
On e-mail
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