Several dustbins get damaged in Handwara market within 2 months of being installed

Kupwara, Mar 11: The residents of Handwara main town are asking for a probe against the newly installed dustbins across the market as several dustbins have witnessed damage thus raising fingers on the concerned department.

The residents said that only two months ago these dustbins were installed by the Municipal Committee Handwara but unknowingly several of them have either been damaged or displaced.

"I am unable to figure out what prompted MC Handwara to install these dustbins in Chilai Kalan. They could have easily waited till the end of winter and then gone for installation," said a local resident.

"I have found that several dustbins have been installed without the set criteria. Usually before installation, two small pits are dug to erect the pillars of the dustbin, following which it is installed but astonishingly several dustbins have been installed on footpaths by putting some concrete around pillars without setting pillars in pits. I believe this is the main reason for their damage," he added.

The shopkeepers are also anguished against Municipal Committee Handwara for failing to maintain checks and balances with regard to newly established dustbins. "At the time of installation of the dustbins, we raised our concerns but still work did not stop, instead installation was carried out within a few days. We have registered a grievance at LG office to probe why dustbins were installed in the biting cold," Traders Federation President Handwara Ajaz Sofi told Greater Kashmir.

"The concerned officials should be made accountable for loss to the government exchequer," he said. "Even we have taken up the issue with district administration but nothing has been done in this regard so far," he added.

When Greater Kashmir brought this issue into the notice of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Handwara Aziz Ahmad Rather, he assured a probe in this matter.