Muzamil Nazir
Hitigam, Srigufwara (Anantnag): A government-designated dumping site in Hitigam village of Srigufwara, Anantnag—located alarmingly close to the local Eidgah and along routes leading to apple orchards—has snowballed into a major public health, environmental and livelihood crisis, with at least 10 people reportedly bitten by stray dogs drawn to the garbage, residents said.
The dumping site, used for mixed and plastic waste disposal under the Plastic Waste Management plan at Monjhardan, has become a breeding ground for stray dogs and disease, contaminating nearby water bodies and disrupting every sector of village life.
“This dumping site is even closer than the Eidgah. People face difficulties while going for prayers, children cannot play safely, and now dog attacks have become routine,” said Nisar Ahmad, a local resident.
Villagers said stray dogs, attracted by exposed waste, have bitten around 10 people over the past two years, besides attacking sheep and other livestock. Locals fear the spread of rabies, skin infections and water-borne diseases, particularly among children and the elderly.
“The garbage has turned into a health hazard. We are constantly worried about diseases. Children are the worst affected,” said a resident, requesting anonymity.
Residents blamed the lack of flood-control measures, saying rainfall washes plastic and waste into agricultural land and water channels, directly affecting apple orchards—the village’s economic backbone.
“The horticulture sector is suffering silently. Polluted water and soil will eventually destroy our orchards,” said Ghulam Hassan Wani, former sarpanch of the area. “This is not just negligence; it is environmental injustice.”
Villagers said the dumping site has disrupted daily life across all sections of the village—farmers, traders, students and worshippers alike—while the presence of garbage near a religious site has added to their distress.
Locals revealed that a formal complaint and legal case were filed nearly two years ago, covering the period from July 1, 2023, to 2024, but no corrective action followed. Instead, residents allege that government pressure was exerted on local bodies to withdraw the case.
“We raised our voice through legal means, but instead of resolving the issue, we were asked to step back,” a villager said.
Despite repeated appeals, authorities have neither relocated the dumping site nor introduced scientific waste segregation and disposal. Environmental observers warn that prolonged exposure to unmanaged plastic waste could lead to irreversible groundwater contamination.
Residents are now demanding immediate relocation of the dump yard, strict implementation of waste management norms, dog population control measures, and urgent intervention by district authorities.
“This village feeds the region through apples. Ignoring this problem today will cost the entire district tomorrow,” a local said.
As waste heaps continue to rise near places of worship and play, Hitigam’s residents say they are being forced to live with disease, danger and decay—right at their doorsteps.
