KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Feb 6: The tussle between Mayor and Deputy Mayor has virtually turned the City into a cesspool as the heaps of garbage could be seen scattered in almost all the localities within the municipal limits in Srinagar.
Sources in Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) told Kashmir Despatch that over 1000 Metric Tons of garbage is lying speckled mainly on road sides in Srinagar as the employees of SMC are on two day strike.
“The Mayor and Deputy Mayor have no time to attend to the basic problems faced by the people especially sanitation issues. The normal work in SMC has been paralyzed by the power struggle of the Mayor and Deputy mayor coupled with the employees’ agitation,” a top officer of the SMC told Kashmir Despatch on the condition of anonymity.
Official sources in sanitation section of SMC revealed that approximately around 500 Metric Tons of solid wastes are recovered from Srinagar on daily basis. “Since the employees of SMC on are two day strike, around 1000 Metric Tons of garbage mainly solid wastes lie scattered in different colonies of Srinagar,” sources told Kashmir Despatch.
Pertinently, the employees of SMC are on two-day strike protesting for redressal of their grievances. “There are around 400 employees who have been appointed by successive government in J&K who demand their regularization and salaries from internal resources. These employees are supported by around 4500 other colleagues working in SMC. These all employees work in sanitation section of SMC. Since they are on strike and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are busy in their trivial political tussle, the inhabitants of Srinagar city are forced to bear the brunt,” sources in the SMC revealed.
With heaps of trash in the streets, the residents of many colonies are up in arms against the functioning of the SMC particularly its Mayor and Deputy Mayor who are always seen engaged in verbal duel against each other.
“There is no regular cleaning of roads, streets and collection of municipal garbage. Garbage piles have turned the roads into stinking dump-yards,” said Waseem Ahmad a resident of Gangbug.
Piles of the garbage can be seen lying unattended on all the busy squares of the city including Lal Chowk, Jehangir Chowk, Batmaloo, Maisuma and Dalgate. Garbage from all the 35 Wards has not been lifted, sources told Kashmir Despatch.
At Clock Tower, foul smell emanating from the unattended pile of garbage is bothering both shopkeepers and passerby. “This is the heart of the city and a prime location. SMC should lift the garbage from here,” Abdul Rashid a shopkeeper in Lal Chowk said.
It is pertinent to mention here that SMC has been gripped by allegations and counter allegations ever since the Corporator, Shaheena Bhat, accused SMC Mayor of sexual harassment. The Mayor has termed the charges as ‘baseless’.
However, the employees of the SMC said they have nothing to do with the political infighting between Mayor and Deputy Mayor and want SMC to function the way it was before the municipal elections.
Residents in many colonies of Srinagar like Shah Anwar Colony, Baghat, Barzulla, Rambagh, Eidgah said that a power game between Mayor and his Deputy is taking a toll on the civic issues of the people in Srinagar.
“They have dragged the entire Srinagar city into their power game. People are suffering and they are fighting for power and funds. Instead of cleaning the roads their filthy relationship is turning the city dirtier,” said Showkat Ahmad, a resident of Budhsha Nagar.
