Anantnag, Jul 03: The famous offbeat tourist destination, Sinthan Top is witnessing a massive influx of tourists. However, the area is littered with piles of plastic waste, raising questions about civic responsibility and the lackadaisical approach of the Kokernag Development Authority (KDA).
The destination, situated around 12,400 feet above sea level, is said to be the source of water for the Bringi River, which flows through Kokernag. Sinthan Top still has some accumulated snow, and tourists visit the place in large numbers every day and as per official figures more than 2 lakh tourists have already visited Sinthan Top this year.
Malik Mehraj Khalid, a cyclist (MTB Rider) who shot the video that prompted the KDA to clean Sinthan Top, told Rising Kashmir that it wasn’t preplanned; the situation there compelled him to film the video so the concerned authorities would act.
He said that he has visited Sinthan Top before, but this time, seeing the plastic waste everywhere was particularly disheartening.
“Tourists and locals from far-off places visit in large numbers daily, but unfortunately, the place lacks waste management and dustbins. There is just one single toilet point, and no urinal or additional toilet facilities for visitors, which is quite sad for a place like Sinthan Top, known for its glaciers,” he added.
He further said that Sinthan Top, with its accumulation of snow, has several small streams that flow into the Bringi River. Any pollution at Sinthan Top will also negatively impact the Bringi River.
Despite repeated attempts, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KDA did not respond to calls or messages for comment on the mismanagement at Sinthan Top and the littering video.
Suheel Ahmad, Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kokernag, said that he also came across a video of littering at Sinthan Top and immediately instructed KDA officials and the tourism department to visit the site and take necessary action.
He said that the teams visited the destination and cleaned it. He said that the visitors are advised not to litter and to avoid bringing plastic to the area.
“We will ensure that plastic is avoided at Sinthan Top and that the destination remains clean, as maintaining a clean environment is the responsibility of all of us. We will be imposing a ban on bringing plastic to Sinthan Top to keep it clean,” he added.
