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3 years on, JMC’s garbage disposal project hangs fire

Vanshika Sharma. Dated: 6/12/2013 11:21:37 PM

JAMMU, Jun 12: Notwithstanding the J&K High Court directions, the much hyped garbage disposal project of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), approved in 2010, has still been hanging fire.
As no headway is being made despite the purchase of land for the project by JMC, majority of wards out of 72 wards under its (JMC’s) jurisdiction present a messy spectre with garbage, emanating foul odour, littered everywhere in the absence of proper system for collection and disposal of waste.
JMC authorities however pass the buck to people for delay in the execution of project.
They point out that whenever the Corporation starts construction work on the land purchased, the locals create hurdles because of certain misplaced apprehensions. The political pressure is also obstructing the progress on this account, they say.
The apathy of JMC authorities vis-à-vis ensuring regular clearing of choked drains, collection of garbage from different localities and thereafter its disposal has literally created a hell like situation in many wards. Several areas of the city are devoid of even dust-bins for collection of garbage thus leaving no option for the inhabitants but to dump waste along roadside.
Sunita Gupta, a resident of Janipur while talking to Kashmir Times, said, “For weeks together, no JMC employee turns up in the locality to clear the blocked drains which remain choked with bricks, stones, plastic bags. The overflowing drains with trash littered on the road are a common spectre.”
Chanchal Sharma, a resident of Subhash Nagar, too almost echoes similar sentiments, “There is no proper sanitation system in place.
Time and again we have to give reminders to the concerned officer to pay a visit to the locality but in vain. Many a time, the inhabitants, themselves, have to make efforts to clear the choked drains.” The residents of Rehari Colony have another problem as they point out, “A month ago, the roads were metalled. Now they are broken yet again and the concrete spread around has blocked the drains thus resulting into their overflowing causing great inconvenience to the passersby.”
Ajay Sharma, a shopkeeper in the locality, says, “Drains are not covered properly so the sewage water finds a way out on the roads, lanes and by-lanes. In the absence of dustbins to be installed by JMC, the people also dump trash on the streets which contributes to insect breeding and thus spreading of diseases.”
JMC joint commissioner Kapil Sharma, when contacted on this account, says, “We have already purchased the land for garbage disposal project. But the problem is whenever we start working on the project, the locals create hurdles apprehending that the project may end up in spreading diseases in their locality. Some amount of political pressure too creates hindrance.”
Regarding High Court directions on this account, the Joint Commissioner says, “We are not above the law; we are here to obey the High Court directions and that’s why the department is taking the desired steps.”