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| Yusmarg , Doodhpathri in shambles as CEO posts remain vaccant | | Heaps of solid waste lying scattered | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 20: The twin tourist destinations of Yusmarg and Doodhpathri are witnessing a huge rush of people from last more than a month. On an average 5000 to 8000 people mostly locals throng these places which has resulted in accumulation of huge plastic and other solid waste thus chocking both these tourist destinations.
The local tourism development authorities are unable to address this menace with the result heaps of plastic waste and other solid and semisolid waste can be seen scattered here and there. Interestingly both the posts of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) remain vacant in Yusmarg and Doodhpathri and right now the posts are being held by Executive Engineer YDA and Commissioner SMC respectively.
Details available with Early Times reveal that due to inefficient solid waste management system in place the waste generated by tourists in Yusmarg and Doodhpathri is not being treated at all. Some concerned tourists allege that neither Yusmarg Development Authority (YDA) nor Doodhpathri Development Authority (DDA) have enforced the ban on plastic and plastic products in their respective territorial jurisdictions with the result people are openly using food material packed in plastic.
"The use and sale of disposable plates , glasses , chips packets and even polythene carry bags needs to be banned at least in tourist destinations immediately .
The tourism development authorities can invoke laws like J&K Non Biodegradable Materials (management, handling and disposal) Act 2007 in this direction . In addition to it Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 need to be enforced by YDA , DDA and other tourism authorities. It seems our officers at the helm of affairs are not serious about this . On an average 1000 kgs of trash gets accumulated in Yusmarg and Doodhpathri on daily basis these day as it is the peak tourist season, but not even 1 % of the waste is treated and this is open violation of all the laws governing waste management " said Faiz Bakshi Convener of Srinagar based Environmental Policy Group (NGT)
Sources say that casual employees who are posted in Doodhpathri and Yusmarg development authorities are doing multiple jobs. There is no permanent sanitation staff nor has the sanitation contract been allotted to anybody in spite of huge revenue both these authorities have on account of entry fees. Yusmarg Development Authority (YDA) sources told Early Times that a waste processing machine (magnetic dis-integrator) has been procured a month back but that is not being installed by the authorities at the helm of affairs. |
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