Garbage management is everyone’s responsibility'
One can be fined or even arrested for spitting, littering, or
selling chewing gum in one of the cleanest places in the world.
Assuredly it is not my home town, Srinagar the ‘Switzerland of the East”
but happens to be Singapore, the cleanest City in the world.
The listing of Srinagar as the 4th dirtiest City some years back puts a question mark on the local authorities for its policy on sanitation and waste disposal.
Kashmir Valley may be called paradise on Earth, but its capital Srinagar has the ignominious distinction of being the dirtiest, according to sanitation ratings by the urban development ministry.
Where’s the problem? Have We The Srinagarites been able to live up to Srinagar’s reputation? Or do strict laws keep Singapore a very clean, safe and orderly nation. The answer is ‘No’.
"It is not too controlling, you've got to learn good habits?" said Dr Kamal Zugby, a colleague of mine from Singapore. "So good habits start at home, right? And these habits start early. Children are taught at school and in their family, about how they should behave in society,” Dr Kamal added.
So why doesn’t the same prevail in Srinagar though everyone hates the sight of garbage. We produce around million tons of waste in Srinagar every year. Forecast is that this garbage is going to increase as our domestic /international /religious tourism and the City, continue to grow. Are we doing enough to make our great City cleaner, greener? Unfortunately what we witness is that all including locals, visitors and Yatris throw garbage on the streets and don't give it a second thought.
Reaffirming our commitment in making our City cleaner doesn’t take toll on our incomes. Self-realization, initiation, and participation is a great way ahead to make a real difference in our own localities.
Marriage season is at its peak and garbage mostly in the form of Wazwan residual is piling up. People who spent lakhs of rupees on grand feast like Wazwan can’t afford a few trash bags for proper garbage disposal. Besides, the condition of the colony dumper bins is equally pathetic. As a consequence, such bins have turned into breeding grounds for stray dogs, who go to the extent of attacking innocent people about to dump in their garbage.
All the problems with regard to garbage disposal can be solved through public awareness which has to start from our homes. So, if we can start taking care of our own respective localities, the entire City can be a much better place to live in.
On the part of SMC, shortage of garbage bins at public places should be solved. The SMC Commissioner Dr GN Qasba, a man on mission has to refresh his Waste Disposal Strategies, for quick and safe disposal of the domestic waste, which Srinagar generates.
Then only Srinagar will truly be the “Switzerland of East”. Moreover let’s not forget that “Cleanliness is close to Godliness”, and to get close to the two, charity begins at home. If we keep our houses and neighbourhood clean, the entire City will obviously be clean and that is what we all aspire at!
By
Dr Fiaz Fazili
A Srinagarite working in the Middle East
(The ideas expressed are author’s own)
The listing of Srinagar as the 4th dirtiest City some years back puts a question mark on the local authorities for its policy on sanitation and waste disposal.
Kashmir Valley may be called paradise on Earth, but its capital Srinagar has the ignominious distinction of being the dirtiest, according to sanitation ratings by the urban development ministry.
Where’s the problem? Have We The Srinagarites been able to live up to Srinagar’s reputation? Or do strict laws keep Singapore a very clean, safe and orderly nation. The answer is ‘No’.
"It is not too controlling, you've got to learn good habits?" said Dr Kamal Zugby, a colleague of mine from Singapore. "So good habits start at home, right? And these habits start early. Children are taught at school and in their family, about how they should behave in society,” Dr Kamal added.
So why doesn’t the same prevail in Srinagar though everyone hates the sight of garbage. We produce around million tons of waste in Srinagar every year. Forecast is that this garbage is going to increase as our domestic /international /religious tourism and the City, continue to grow. Are we doing enough to make our great City cleaner, greener? Unfortunately what we witness is that all including locals, visitors and Yatris throw garbage on the streets and don't give it a second thought.
Reaffirming our commitment in making our City cleaner doesn’t take toll on our incomes. Self-realization, initiation, and participation is a great way ahead to make a real difference in our own localities.
Marriage season is at its peak and garbage mostly in the form of Wazwan residual is piling up. People who spent lakhs of rupees on grand feast like Wazwan can’t afford a few trash bags for proper garbage disposal. Besides, the condition of the colony dumper bins is equally pathetic. As a consequence, such bins have turned into breeding grounds for stray dogs, who go to the extent of attacking innocent people about to dump in their garbage.
All the problems with regard to garbage disposal can be solved through public awareness which has to start from our homes. So, if we can start taking care of our own respective localities, the entire City can be a much better place to live in.
On the part of SMC, shortage of garbage bins at public places should be solved. The SMC Commissioner Dr GN Qasba, a man on mission has to refresh his Waste Disposal Strategies, for quick and safe disposal of the domestic waste, which Srinagar generates.
Then only Srinagar will truly be the “Switzerland of East”. Moreover let’s not forget that “Cleanliness is close to Godliness”, and to get close to the two, charity begins at home. If we keep our houses and neighbourhood clean, the entire City will obviously be clean and that is what we all aspire at!
By
Dr Fiaz Fazili
A Srinagarite working in the Middle East
(The ideas expressed are author’s own)
