Srinagar, Mar 12: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday confirmed that waste segregation sheds have been constructed on water bodies in various parts of the Kashmir Valley, including Kupwara district. The revelation came in response to a query by MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed in the Assembly.
Khursheed had sought location-wise details of waste segregation sheds constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) Gramin in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Langate. He also asked for information on the funds utilised for each shelter.
In reply, the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj J&K admitted that several segregation shelters had been built on water bodies. “In Langate alone, out of 69 waste segregation sheds constructed at a cost of Rs 217.87 lakh, four are situated near water bodies,” a ministry official said.
However, Khursheed expressed dissatisfaction with the response, saying that the details provided were incomplete. “I have seen the segregation shelters across J&K, but only a few districts have been mentioned in the reply. The ministry must share complete details soon,” he said.
In a post on MLA Langate said, “The government admitted that waste collection segregation sheds have been constructed near water bodies. Hardly will you find any shed at a feasible location.”
Meanwhile, locals have also raised concerns over the construction of these sheds near water bodies. “There are more segregation sheds either built on the banks of water bodies or just a few meters away. This is a serious environmental issue,” said a resident of Kupwara.
Rising Kashmir had earlier highlighted this issue, pointing out that these sheds, constructed near religious places, schools, or water bodies, have been left without proper maintenance.
The government has assured that it will look into the matter and provide further details regarding the locations of all such segregation sheds in the Union Territory.
