Mughal Road: A historic path marred by modern waste

Shopian, July 31: While the historic Mughal Road is witnessing a significant uptick in tourist footfalls, the picturesque sites along the road are being littered with garbage by both the residents and visitors alike.

The sight of plastic, wrappers, empty bottles, and heaps of cow dung on either side of the road in the Padpawan area presents a dismal picture.

“A stretch of the arterial road beginning from the DFO office is littered with heaps of cow dung left by the residents," a group of local visitors said.

They said that tourists and other travellers also discard plastic waste along the road and in the recently developed parks, contributing to plastic pollution in the area.

Mohammad Imran, a local tourist said that the beautiful forest landscape near Dobijan is marred with discarded plastic bottles, poly bags, and other food waste.

“Everyone must cultivate a sense of civic duty, recognising that their actions directly impact the natural beauty and cleanliness of these areas,” Imran said.

He said that the authorities should install dustbins at multiple locations along the road.

A forest official said that they always discourage the use of plastic bags and other non-biodegradable items in forest areas.

He emphasised that people should develop a sense of responsibility towards the environment and refrain from littering to protect the natural beauty and ecological balance of these regions.