MC dumping garbage into stream
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, May 18
Instead of disposing of garbage and other waste material at a dumping ground, the municipal authorities here are directly throwing garbage into a nullah (stream) in Rajouri.

Residents complained that by doing so, they are not only polluting the Rajouri stream, which ultimately will lead to the death of aquatic animals, but are also causing great pain to the people who pass through the area as foul smell emanates from the stream.

Heaps of garbage on the banks of Rajouri nullah. Photo by writer

“The municipal authorities after collecting garbage from various parts of the town and directly throw it into the nullah. We have complained to the authorities many times, but to no avail. Now we have given up complaining,” Ishtiyaq Ahmed, a local resident, said.

An official of the Fisheries Department said due to the negligence of the municipal authorities, the life of fauna and flora in the stream had been badly affected.

“On several occasions we have told the municipal authorities not to throw garbage into the stream, but the authorities refuse to pay any heed to our repeated requests,” the official said.

Admitting that the municipal authorities are throwing garbage into the nullah in Rajouri, Rajinder Gupta, chairman of the Rajouri Municipal Committee, said: “We have submitted a proposal to the government for scientific disposal of the garbage. The project is awaiting approval.”