Srinagar, July 10: In a glaring example of public irresponsibility, residents and civic workers in Safakadal area of old Srinagar city were left shocked after recovering hundreds of plastic bottles from the clogged drains during a clean-up operation on Tuesday. The operation followed a recent spell of rainfall that inundated several lanes and bylanes in the locality.
While civic authorities are often blamed for poor drainage and flooding, the grim reality from Safakadal tells a different story. Plastic waste, mostly bottles, dumped directly into the drains by people, has emerged as the root cause of choking and overflow.
An official from the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED), who was part of the clean-up, told the news agency Kashmir News trust that the city’s drainage system, especially in old Srinagar, has ample capacity to handle rainwater. But the real problem is the indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste. These bottles completely block the water flow.”
The clean-up was conducted jointly by UEED workers and concerned citizens, who decided to take matters into their own hands after rainwater flooded roads, homes, and shops. What they discovered in the drains was a disturbing mix of mud, solid waste, and an astonishing quantity of plastic bottles.
“This is not about Smart City or the government. This is about people being careless and indifferent to the environment they live in,” said a local resident who participated in the clean-up. “We often shout about bad drainage, but look at what we are doing to our own neighbourhoods.”
“The image from Safakadal speaks volumes, plastic bottles covered in filth, mixed with other waste, piled up in what should have been a free-flowing water channel. The scene is a stark reminder that civic sense is as important as civic infrastructure,” said a shopkeeper.
Authorities have urged the public to act responsibly and refrain from dumping solid waste into drains. “Awareness is key. People must understand that these systems can only work if we cooperate. Otherwise, we will keep facing the same problem after every rain,” the UEED official added. [KNT]
