Ganderbal, Nov 26, KNT: Sonamarg tourist destination in Central Kashmir, has turned into a garbage dumping site due to the Sonamarg Development Authority’s failure to maintain proper sanitation. Despite allocating Rs 18 lakh for sanitation this year, the tourist destination remains littered with trash, plastic bottles and polythene.
Hotel owners told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that they pay Rs 800 per room as sanitation charges and still, there is a lack of proper waste management. They claimed that sanitation services were only available during the Amarnath Yatra period, leaving the area in disarray for the rest of the year.
The Sonmarg Beopar Mandal President, Shabir Ahmed Lone, criticized the Sonamarg Development Authority’s inaction, stating, “We fail to understand why they are not working to make this tourist destination a better, healthier and cleaner place.”
The Waste Management Plant at Sarbal lies idle, with no garbage being lifted or dumped there. Garbage scattering everywhere has become a common sight, making it difficult for tourists to move around. “The once-pristine tourist resort now resembles a garbage dump,” he said.
Another hotelier Irfan Ahmed said that Sonamarg has the potential to be a world-class destination. However, the current state of shabbiness undermines its tourism potential. “Authorities must intervene to restore Sonmarg’s charm and ensure a pleasant experience for visitors,” he added. [KNT]
