School teachers to be held accountable for students’ littering in Gulmarg: CEO GDA

Gulmarg, July 6: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) on Saturday announced stringent measures against school teachers if their students are found littering in Gulmarg during picnics.

This decision has come as part of an effort to maintain the ecological balance and cleanliness of the tourist destination and to preserve the pristine beauty of Gulmarg.Talking to Greater Kashmir during a day-long anti-pollution and anti-polythene drive launched by GDA, CEO Waseem Raja said that it has been made mandatory requirement for schools to obtain prior permission before organising picnics to Gulmarg.

“This policy ensures that the GDA can implement a strict undertaking from school management, holding them responsible for their students’ actions,” he said. He said that in case any student will be found throwing polythene and plastic waste in Gulmarg and not using the dustbins, the GDA will write to the concerned authorities and hold the teachers accountable for it. Earlier, the GDA issued an advisory to all the schools that not to plan their picnics on weekends.

“The advisory has several aspects. Firstly, the students would face difficulties due to rush of people rushing to Gulmarg and they could not get a good experience. And once the schools will seek prior permission, things will be streamline,” he said. He however stated that GDA welcomes everyone to Gulmarg but the people visiting Gulmarg should not pollute this place.

Meanwhile GDA held a day-long anti-pollution and anti-Polythene drive which commenced at Tangmarg and later concluded at Childrens’ park Gulmarg. “Gulmarg is an eco fragile zone and we urge people not to pollute it by throwing plastic waste and polythene here,” he said.

During the drive at Tangmarg, the CEO GDA along with officials from Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) inspected the vehicles ferrying passengers towards Gulmarg. The officials ensured that the vehicles plying towards Gulmarg have valid pollution certificate of their vehicles. “We all are together trying to make people understand that Gulmarg should not be polluted. We did pollution check of vehicles so that the drivers are sensitised and made aware that the poisonous gases emitted  by vehicles can prove disastrous for Gulmarg which is an eco fragile zone,” he said.

Meanwhile, during the drive, the team checked hundreds of vehicles near Tangmarg and imposed a fine of Rs 85000 for various offences and violations. Five vehicles with expired fitness certificates, producing excessive smoke, were seized by Tangmarg Police under Section 129. Later, the GDA in collaboration with the Tangmarg/Gulmarg Municipal Committee, launched a cleanliness drive at the Children’s Park. SHO Gulmarg, Haroon Kar, also participated in the drive. Volunteers focused on cleaning the park, collecting polythene and plastic waste scattered in the area.

During the drive, CEO GDA Waseem Raja and SHO Gulmarg Haroon Kar emphasised the importance of utilizing the numerous dustbins installed around Gulmarg, encouraging visitors and tourists to keep the area clean.

“Anyone found using polythene or disposing of plastic waste irresponsibly in Gulmarg would face strict penalties as per the law,” he said.