Srinagar: Hundreds of local residents and patients who earlier were up in arms against Srinagar Municipal Corporations (SMC) for failing to lift the heaps of garbage in front of JVC hospital here in Bemina took a sigh of relief after authorities cleared it.
JVC is medical college of Sher-I-Kashmir institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) and a hospital located in Bemina Srinagar.
The recent report highlighted the presence of unattended garbage outside JVC hospital. The authorities however took cognizance of the story and deputed the team at the spot to clear the garbage.
“On the basis of a report we sent a team including sweepers to lift the garbage from the site,” said an official of SMC. He however blamed local residents for not informing them about the matter.
“Before reaching media the locals and patients should have informed us about the presence of garbage dump near JVC hospital,” said the official.
On the other hand group of locals said that they were relieved to see the site free from any garbage dump. “We are thankful to Kashmir News Trust and news papers that carried the story for highlighting our grievance. Because of the report authorities woke up and resolved this grave matter,” said Bilal Ahmad a local near Chinar colony Bemina.
He said earlier solid waste including plastic bags, polythene, domestic bags, and residents from other areas were scattered near the hospital. “Patients from different areas come here for treatment but the garbage in front of the hospital had put their health on risk,” he added.
He said people due to this garbage were avoiding walking on the main road because the garbage has become headache for them. “Due to this bad smell people were facing health issues.”
Earlier, scattered garbage was all over the area, particularly opposite hospital road, causing massive inconvenience to the patients and attendants. Piles of unattended garbage were also lying inside the residential colonies of Bemina.
“The garbage and dead animals surrounded by stray dogs was posing grave threat to the pedestrians. The pungent smell emanating from the garbage and animal carcasses was making the walk even more difficult,” the residents had complained.
The residents said they had made ‘repeated attempts’ to raise the matter with the authorities who had turned deaf ears towards the issue “until the matter was brought up by media”.
When contacted a senior SMC official said the sanitation is ultimate priority of government. “The sanitation drives will continue in the area,” the official said. (KNT)
