Srinagar, July 19: To avoid littering in Srinagar city on the eve of Eid-ul-Adha, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) will deploy ‘dedicated vehicles’ under the pan-city initiative to collect hides and offal of sacrificial animals free of cost.
This is the first-ever initiative taken up by Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) after a significant decline in the export market of hides.
Pertinently, a few years ago, the animal hides had a good market outside. People used to deposit these hides to mosques, religious seminaries, orphanages etc voluntarily who were getting handsome amounts from dealers. However after a devalue reported in its export business, locals used to throw hides and offal on roadsides.
“The SMC has dedicated this service for the first time. People used to throw hides and offal of sacrificial animals on roads in the last few years due to the devaluing of the export market of animal hides. However, SMC has taken an initiative this year and will collect hides in all administrative wards of the city," Chief Sanitation Officer (CSO), SMC Nazir Ahmad Baba told Rising Kashmir.
He said earlier the hides of sacrificial animals were collected by wholesale dealers (kothdar’s) but in the last three-four years its market devalued and wholesale dealers showed poor interest in its collection.
He said due to no alternative the city dwellers were throwing it on roads and other open places causing inconvenience to locals and SMC.
“We made a plan to tackle this situation this year. The department will deploy dedicated vehicles along with ward boys in every administrative ward where hides and offal of sacrificial animals would be collected in an organized manner," the CSO said and added, “The said vehicles will be sent to every household whosoever calls them."
When asked how people will get aware of the facility, the CSO said that the SMC will make this initiative public through print and electronic media besides social media platforms to be used for the same, saying "whosoever wishes to avail this facility can call SMC’s control room anytime during Eid-ul-Adha days."
He said the SMC’s control room would remain functional even on Eid-ul-Adha days so that sanitation work in Srinagar city won’t get affected.
“We have 74-electoral wards (35-administrative wards) in Srinagar city. These dedicated vehicles along with ward boys would remain alert in every administrative ward. Our administrative ward comprises 2 or 3 electoral wards," the Officer said.
“The SMC is providing the maiden service free of cost to the residents of Srinagar City," the Officer added.
The Chief Sanitation Officer Nazir Ahmad Baba requested people to avoid throwing hides and offal on roads and open places and appealed to them to avail the facility free of cost.
He added whosoever would be found indulging in throwing hides and other waste on roads would be penalized as per the law.
“Violators won’t go unpunished. They will be dealt with as per law," the CSO said and added, “People should cooperate with SMC in making the city garbage-free."
京公网安备 11010202009378号
