Dumping of garbage along Narwal-Sidhra bypass rampant

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 12

The state government lacks a waste management policy in the winter capital due to which people dump garbage and other waste on the Narwal-Sidhra bypass area of Jammu.

Though this violates the environmental law, the government is not taking any steps to address the issue.

However, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) claims to have its own dumping yard in Bhagwati Nagar and says that garbage is being dumped by its vehicles after being collected from city areas. JMC officials claimed that it was not them but people, including few firms, who dump waste on the Narwal-Sidhra bypass road and there was no check on this activity.

Jammu Municipal Corporation health officer Saleem Khan said the Jammu Municipal Corporation had its own dumping ground at Bhagwati Nagar where city waste was being dumped. “We don’t have any control on dumping other kind of waste by people on the bypass road as it is outside the JMC limits. This area belongs to the Forest Department and they will have to check this activity,” the Jammu Municipal Corporation health officer said.

“People as well as Jammu Municipal Corporationofficials dump garbage, building material and other kind of waste in this area. This activity goes on under the nose of the government and the administration, but nobody has taken any step to put a check on it,” said a resident of Sidhra. Dumping of waste on roadside is against the environmental law and is defacing the area. The Forest Department has to put a check on it but they are passing the buck on other departments.

“Mostly, Jammu Municipal Corporation people come and dump garbage on this stretch. Sometimes people bring loaded vehicles during night and dump waste there,” said Ajeet Chandal, Range Officer, Bahu Range of Forest, Jammu.

Passing the buck on the other departments, he said the area was divided among various departments, including remote sensing and forest department. “In future we will try to control it and stop this practice, but other department will also have to act accordingly,” he added.