Unscientific disposal of rotten apples at IGC Lassipora poses health hazards

Pulwama, June 19: The improper disposal of rotten apples at the Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) Lassipora in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district has become a significant health concern.
The unscientific dumping of these apples, mostly occurring at night, has created a distressing environment for workers in the area.
A labourer from a nearby private factory expressed frustration over the situation.
He narrated that a large number of rotten apples are regularly discarded by Controlled Atmosphere (CA) store owners on a specific patch of land.
“This has resulted in severe odour issues and has turned the site into a breeding ground for disease-causing organisms,” he said, adding that many factory labourers, unable to tolerate the stench, have quit their jobs in search of safer work places.
Despite previous assurances from local authorities to implement scientific disposal methods, the problem persists.
Mukhtar Ahmad, President of the Industrial Association Lassipora, said that the site was designated for dumping, with instructions that it be excavated beforehand to manage the waste properly.
However, he admitted that the disposal practices remain unscientific and called for intervention from SIDCO authorities.
He said that there are around 800 industrial units in the area without a dedicated dumping facility.
He urged SIDCO authorities for facilitating the unit holders by creating a proper dumping facility for them.
Fayaz Ahmad, Manager of SIDCO Lassipora, informed Rising Kashmir that he has ordered the discontinuation of dumping rotten apples at the site.
“I have written to municipality officials to remove the rotten organic matter from the site for proper disposal,” he said, adding that SIDCO will cover the costs for this work.