| Chocked drains, unhygienic surroundings: welcome to Gorakhnagar! | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, May 28: Unhygienic surroundings, chocked drains, lack of dustbins. This is the scene in Gorkhanagar which appears to be not on the radar of the bodies entrusted with cleanliness of the area. As per locals, more than 30 Safai Karamcharis were previously deputed to look after the cleanliness of lanes and drains, but only few of them come regularly or occasionally carry out cleanliness work in the localities.
Earlier the authorities had installed a dustbin in the main chowk of Gorkhanagar for dumping of garbage, but now the dustbin has been removed and installed outside, with the result the residents have to put the garbage outside their homes. "Everyone knows that Gorkhanagar has become a hub of momos makers. Nearly 70 percent of population is involved in the momos trade to eke out their living," said Munish Adhikari, president of Jammu and Kashmir Gorkha Youth Organisation, adding that some of them have purchased momos in wholesale and then distribute to street vendors.
Few days back, during the surprise visit at Gorkanagar by Commissioner of Food Safety Organisation, the momos makers were directed to obtain licenses of their food establishments from the FSSAI and maintain hygiene at all levels to avoid cross contamination. But the department concerned has never organised any awareness camp in the locality for the momos makers.
"If they come with awareness programme, the momos makers would welcome it, but the officials come here only to terrify the people and make newspaper headlines by saying that 'FSO team raids unhealthy food premises in Gorkhanagar and lifted samples to check adulteration'," said Karuna Chettry, president of All Gorkha Sabha. She said the momos makers want to provide hygienic food to their customers and try their best to maintain quality, but the department concerned (FSO) rather than encouraging the people is making their lives difficult by conducting raid after raid. "If the raids continue, many people would shut down their business, which would render the youth unemployed," she said.
Another prominent resident of the locality, Janak Bhadur, said that foul smell emanating from sewerage nallah of Kalka Colony and silt dumped along the canal of Tawi during de-silting drive is making the life of residents hellish.
The locals lamented that the authorities have completely ignored Gorkhanagar over the years and urged the bodies concerned to end their apathy towards the area and focus on keeping the area neat and clean. |
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