Arif Rashid
Budgam, June 3: Residents of Galwanpora village in central Kashmir’s Budgam district have urged the Rural Development Department (RDD) to immediately remove accumulated garbage from a roadside dumping site, alleging that the waste has attracted stray dogs that frequently attack pedestrians.
Locals said the roadside area in Galwanpora has gradually turned into an unofficial dumping ground, with people from nearby villages and commuters discarding waste at the location. The growing heap of garbage has not only created unhygienic conditions but has also led to a rise in the stray dog population in the area.
Sanaullah Wani, a resident of Galwanpora, told Rising Kashmir that foul smell emanating from the garbage has become a major concern for villagers.
“The roadside has effectively become a dumping site. People travelling through the area often throw waste here, worsening the situation,” Wani said.
He added that stray dogs feed on the food waste dumped at the site and have made the area their habitat.
“The dogs remain around the garbage dump and often chase or attack people passing through the road on foot, posing a serious threat to public safety,” he said.
A woman resident living near the location said that indiscriminate dumping of garbage by people from different villages has aggravated the problem.
“Since the site became a dumping point, stray dogs have started gathering here in large numbers. Several people have been attacked over the years, resulting in dog-bite injuries,” she said.
She further said that school-going children, senior citizens and women are particularly vulnerable, as many fear walking along the road due to the presence of aggressive stray dogs.
The residents have appealed to the Rural Development Department Budgam, to clear the garbage from the site and introduce a door-to-door waste collection service in the village to prevent further dumping.
Meanwhile, an official from the Block Development Office (BDO), Soibugh, said the department has repeatedly removed garbage from the location, but the problem persists due to continued dumping by the public.
“We have lifted the waste from this spot on several occasions. However, people continue to dump garbage there regularly, making it difficult to maintain cleanliness,” the official said.