Safapora residents seek removal of ‘legacy waste’ at G’bal wetland

Srinagar, April 17: Shali Sattu Chanderger wetland in central Kashmir’s Safapora area of Ganderbal district has become a waste dumping site after the Mansbal Development Authorities collected and kept the legacy waste there two years ago.
Residents of Chanderger Ganderbal said that the dumping of waste at the wetland which was once a green area is posing threats to public health and raising environmental concerns.
Suhail Ahmad, a resident of Safapora said the Mansbal Development Authorities have thrown all the waste and garbage in the wetland which is against the rules of wetland and solid waste management.
“The garbage is being thrown openly on a road side and it is affecting the people of Chanderger, Hakbara and other areas,” he said.
He also said that the presence of huge garbage is inviting dogs and which prove fatal as dogs are also seen in groups at the garbage site.
Suhail said the wetland was once a favourite destination for the migratory birds but now it is losing its sheen due to illegal and inhuman activities.
There is a huge agriculture and paddy land near the garbage site and people are also worried about the infections the piled-up garbage may cause to the crops.
The garbage has been dumped two years ago and now a filthy smell emanates from the garbage site which is causing inconveniences for the people.
“It has now become a favourite spot for stray dogs and they attack the travellers as the garbage site is near the road,” said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a local resident.
CEO, Mansbal Development Authority, Ghulam Mohd Bhat also agreed that people were throwing waste into the landfill site. He said it does not fall under their jurisdiction..
Block Development Officer, Safapora, Hakeem Aqib admitted that the waste has been dumped there by the Mansbal Development Authority. “We have received complaints from people. This is the liability of MDA. We will talk to them and we will try to clean it,” he said.