Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, June 13: The waste piles up at the famous tourist resort Pahalgam in South Kashmir as the waste treatment plant that was procured to process the waste on scientific lines is lying defunct for the last two months.
As the treatment plant remains shut, the waste has accumulated at different places with both locals and experts raising alarm over the disastrous impacts of unattended waste on the ecology of this picturesque tourist resort. “Mounds of garbage are lying outside the plant located at an eco-sensitive place. It has a detrimental effect on the environment and measures should be taken to dispose of the waste effectively. A machine that was brought in to save the environment is non-functional due to official apathy,” an expert said.
With an aim to treat the waste on scientific lines, the Government installed a treatment plant at the Sarbal area of the resort at an estimated cost of around Rs 3 crores. The plant has the capacity to process 10-Metric tons of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in a day.
An official privy to the details accused the administration of improper handling of the plant. “During a peak season the resort produces around 5-metric tonnes of waste, but the administration is processing a small amount of garbage leaving mounds of garbage outside the treatment plant,” he said.
He added that the treatment plant becomes more important in view of the upcoming yatra season. “With the increase in tourist footfall more garbage will be generated and the absence of the waste plant will lead to pilling of the waste in and around the green meadows,” he said.
The locals of the area alleged that the resort has started to stink because of unattended mounds of garbage outside the plant. “Foul smell has shrouded the entire area. Authorities don’t manage the site properly. They should have easily dealt with the stink by spraying some disinfectants, but they are never seen doing so,” a local said. He added that when the world is stressing on cleanliness to fight the ongoing pandemic the authorities here are inviting more infections.
Chief Executive Officer Pahalgam Development Authority, Mushtaq Ahmad Simnani, told Excelsior that the tendering process has been initiated and the plant would be made functional in a week. “Every year we invited bids from private contractors who can run the treatment plant. However, the process was delayed this year due to Coronavirus pandemic,” he said, adding that the tenders have been issued to a private company and the plant will soon resume functioning.
Asked about the piles of garbage at various places, he said: “We have around 70-employees who work diligently to keep the entire Pahlagam safe.”
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel