Garbage crisis, lack of maintenance hit Bandipora's prime tourist destination

Bandipora, Apr 13: The Wular Vantage Park, located on the Bandipora-Srinagar road and overlooking Wular Lake in this north Kashmir district, is grappling with a garbage crisis and offlately proper maintenance.

Both local and outside tourists are equally aghast at the site being neglected.

Although the park falls under the Wular Manasbal Development Authority (WMDA), the flowering and gardening works are being looked after by the Floriculture Department.

The Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) also shares the responsibility of managing waste in the lake’s catchment areas.

A few days ago, when this reporter visited the park, plastic waste was seen scattered all over the place.

Plastic bottles, instead of being discarded, were seen hanging on the fences like decorations.

The waste bins were overloaded, while leftover or dumped garbage lay just a few meters from the park's fence.

Notably, the park is considered one of the few with the potential to attract tourists to this far-off district.

“Our responsibility is to take care of the gardening,” one official stationed at the park told Greater Kashmir on the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals.

Even though the park is under multiple authorities, it has been outsourced to a private contractor, who is primarily focused on collecting ticket revenue to earn a profit share, while garbage crisis, lack of maintenance is suffocating in.

“No one from the departments bothers about the garbage mess and the park’s condition,” said an elderly man, apparently hired by the private agency, as he collected scattered garbage.

"How much can I handle alone," he fumed.

Notably, the park, besides welcoming tourists, also hosts a number of government events, mostly when high-ranking administrative officials arrive in the district.

“With those events seeing a decline, the park also faces neglect, as it’s not cleaned regularly now,” said another lower-rung official, adding, “The same goes for the fountains and other park infrastructure like washrooms and sitting areas.”

“We had been to Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg,” Chinmay Vartak, a tourist from Mumbai, who arrived at the park along with a large group, some from Nagpur too, on Tuedsay said.

Asked about his impression after visiting the park, which offers a scenic view of Wular Lake, he said, “We came to visit Wular Lake, which is said to be part of the ancient Satisar.”

“The weather is pleasant, and we are enjoying every moment here,” he said.

He added, “The government should take care of the cleanliness. If Wular Lake and its surroundings remain clean, it will be much nicer.”

“We are also visiting Srinagar, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam. While Srinagar is clean, the other places also need to be kept in good shape,” he said.

The garbage issue is not limited to the park itself. Food vendors stationed outside the park are also contributing to the waste problem besides vast areas piling under garbage.

When Greater Kashmir raised the issue with WMDA CEO Umar Shafi, he admitted that the authority is responsible for the park’s upkeep and assured that the matter would be addressed.

However, the officer clarified that the authority is no longer responsible for sanitation across thirty three villages surrounding Wular Lake and has not issued any tenders which they normally did before.

“Now, all these villages have been taken away from WMDA by WUCMA,” he said.

He added, “The park is under our authority, and whatever the issue is, we will sort it out,” the officer told.