BANDIPORA: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, on Thursday attended a workshop on waste management organised by the Municipal Council Bandipora to promote sustainable waste management practices and encourage public participation in maintaining cleanliness across the district.
Addressing the gathering, the DC said that waste management has emerged as one of the major challenges of modern times and stressed the need for collective action and community participation to tackle it effectively. She urged citizens to adopt the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and to extend full cooperation to the district administration in keeping Bandipora clean, green, and litter-free.
Expressing concern over the Zalwan dumping site, the DC said that the site is swelling due to continuous dumping of waste from various parts of Bandipora town and adjoining areas. “The citizens of Bandipora need to wake up as Zalwan is now swelling due to excessive waste. Reducing waste generation at home and in establishments is the need of the hour if we truly wish to save our district,” she remarked.
On the occasion, residents of Zalwan also shared their concerns and agony over the accumulation of tonnes of waste around their village. They appealed to the people of Bandipora to minimise waste generation at home and act as responsible citizens by supporting the district’s waste reduction initiatives.
The DC urged people to avoid the use of polythene and single-use plastic (SUP) and instead switch to biodegradable alternatives. Emphasising that cleanliness is a shared civic responsibility, she encouraged students to act as “Brand Ambassadors of Clean Bandipora” and spread the message of hygiene and sustainability in their surroundings.
During the programme, students who completed internship programmes under Swachhta Pakhwada and Seva Pakhwada shared their experiences, which included door-to-door awareness drives, household sensitisation, visits to local water bodies and the MRF plant at Sumbal, and public campaigns on waste segregation and plastic reduction.
Prominent personalities including Padma Shri awardee Faisal Ali Dar, Chairperson Civil Society Bandipora G. M. Lone, President Traders Federation Bandipora Ali Mohammad Hajam, senior citizens, and students from various educational institutions also participated in the event and shared their views on sustainable waste management and environmental conservation.
A felicitation ceremony was also held during which Swachhta interns and contributors under Seva Pakhwada were honoured for their outstanding work and dedication towards promoting cleanliness and community awareness.
Among others, the event was attended by CEO MC Bandipora Ajaz Ahmad, Principals of Degree Colleges, the Chief Education Officer, Zonal Education Officers, Heads of Schools, Swachh Ambassadors, and officials of the Municipal Council Bandipora.
