Srinagar, June 09: As Eid-ul-Adha festivities drew to a close, residents across Srinagar hailed the Sri-nagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for its exemplary handling of sacrificial animal waste through a free door-to-door hooper service.
Launched for the first time this year, the initiative operated daily from June 7 to 9 and was widely praised for ensuring timely and efficient waste collection throughout the city. The service covered all 74 municipal wards — encompassing both residential and commercial areas — helping maintain a high standard of cleanliness during the festival.
SMC officials described the initiative as a major success, with hundreds of tonnes of animal waste collected and transported to the Achan landfill, thereby preventing any accumulation in streets or public spaces. This proactive approach marked a significant improvement over previous years, when animal remains often led to hygiene issues and unpleasant odours.
A senior SMC official, wishing not to be named, said: “With over 300 hooper vehicles deployed across all wards, we managed waste collection effectively and kept the streets clean.”
He further noted that additional sanitation workers were stationed in high-footfall areas, contrib-uting significantly to the smooth operation. “We received excellent cooperation from the public, and our teams worked diligently to ensure the city remained clean throughout,” the official added. Resi-dents across the city expressed satisfaction. Javed Iqbal from Bagh-e-Mehtab shared, “The hooper vehicle arrived right at our doorstep, and the staff handled everything smoothly. It made the entire process hassle-free.”
Others noted the stark contrast to previous years. “Earlier, waste would pile up in public spaces, attracting stray dogs and creating a stench. This time, the streets remained clean and odour-free,” said Shakir Wani, a resident of Jawahar Nagar.
In high-traffic localities like Bemina and Hazratbal, residents also reported visible improvements. “I have lived here for years and there were always issues with improper dumping. This year was notice-ably better,” said Usman Rather from Hazratbal. With the resounding success of the hooper service, many are hopeful that this model will be replicated during future festivals as well. “Having the hoop-er vehicle come to our doorstep made waste disposal effortless. I sincerely hope this becomes a regular feature — not just for Eid, but for all major festivals,” said Salman Tantray, a resident of Peerbagh.
