Kupwara, May 7: The residents of Waskhura and adjacent villages Thursday staged a strong protest near Tarli Bridge in Handwara against the Municipal Committee Handwara, alleging indiscriminate dumping of garbage in the area. The protest led to a temporary blockade of the road, disrupting traffic for a considerable time.
Locals said the continuous dumping of waste near the bridge has created serious health and environmental hazards. “Several domestic animals have died after consuming garbage dumped here. Today again, a cow died after eating waste, which is extremely distressing,” said a protester Mohammad Rustam Dar of Waskhura. The residents said that they have repeatedly informed the Municipal Committee not to dump garbage at this site, but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. “This is affecting our daily lives, especially school children and pedestrians who pass through this route,” said another protester.
The protesters warned that they will intensify their agitation if immediate steps are not taken to shift the dumping site. “We will not allow this practice to continue. Authorities must act before the situation worsens,” they added. Later, a police team reached the spot and assured the protesters that their grievance would be taken up with the concerned authorities, following which the protesters dispersed peacefully and the traffic movement was restored on Handwara-Ramhall road.
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