Embankments in south Kashmir’s Kakapora turn into dumping ground

Pulwama, Aug 26: Riverbanks in south Kashmir’s Kakapora area present a dismal picture, with heaps of garbage piled up along the river Jhelum, Romhsmi, Lathi Kul and Pati Kul streams. What were once clean stretches of water now resemble dumping sites, littered with plastic, household waste and debris.

As per local residents, the situation has steadily worsened as there was no proper waste disposal system in place. With no collection points or sanitation drives, particularly over the last few weeks, people were dumping garbage in open spaces, and the riverbanks had become the easiest spots for garbage disposal.

“The stench is unbearable, and the water is no longer safe for daily use,” said Ali Mohammad Jan, a local resident. He added that repeated requests to authorities for sanitation measures have been ignored. Residents said the garbage has polluted the water bodies and threat of water borne diseases looms large over the area. “We also depend on these water bodies to irrigate our fields, but the filth is making it unfit,” said another resident.

Residents in the area demanded immediate action from the administration to clear the piled up waste, seeking a permanent solution for waste management in the area. Meanwhile, on Wednesday last week, scores of residents from the village held a protest demanding the posting of Block Development Officer (BDO) at Kakpora. The protesters said the post has been lying vacant for more than a month, resulting in the disruption of smooth functioning of developmental works, delay in public services. They urged the administration to immediately fill the vacancy to ensure people do not continue to suffer.