The Editorial in the Rising Kashmir states that the city has suffered from lack of civic sense as much as it has from government apathy
Shabby Srinagar
Streets littered with garbage is a common sight in Srinagar city. At times with heaps of garbage lying unattended, the local residents and shopkeepers at many places are left with no choice but to remove it themselves. The Srinagar Municipality Corporation Karamcharies have reportedly stopped cleaning the roads and drains in these areas after local residents refused to pay sanitation fee. Perhaps people’s refusal to pay Rs 50 per month as sanitation fee stems from their bad experience about SMC’s performance as far as sanitation in residential areas is concerned.
Many locals also complain that despite several reminders, the authorities have not installed dustbins in their areas. People have long been concerned over the deteriorating sanitation conditions of the city. No wonder, the ranking of Srinagar as the fourth dirtiest city in India, in a survey by Urban Development Ministry, did not come as a surprise for most city dwellers. We have become used to dusty and garbage-littered streets. The authorities are yet to employ modern means of waste disposal and management. With the amount of waste growing by the day, there is bleak prospect for residents to have clean streets. Stray dog population has also increased manifold over the years adding to the unhygienic look of the city. Srinagar has traditionally served as one of the choicest tourist destinations, but with its worsening condition it won’t be a surprise if the tourist arrivals also show a steep decline in coming times. The state government can learn from the dramatic transformation of Delhi from a polluted metro to a better planned and greener city. Maintaining a city’s charm is not all about erecting fountains at main avenues or dismantling footpaths in the name of road widening, it is about maintaining the basic standards of sanitation and aesthetics. A casual tour through Srinagar city and one can realize the chaos it is descending into. The city is beset with plethora of civic problems.
Roads inundated with potholes, overflowing drains, non-functional street lights, long and frequent traffic jams, heaps of unattended garbage, packs of stray dogs, footpaths and roadsides encroached by bunkers…the list is endless. All these issues also deprive the city of its aesthetic charm. The government has failed to address all these issues despite announcing funds for various developmental projects from time to time. For making Srinagar a clean and orderly city, the contribution of people is vital. Without people’s active support, any ambitious project in revamping the city will fall flat. The city has suffered from lack of civic sense as much as it has from government indifference and shortsightedness. To help restore its lost glory is therefore a collective responsibility.