“Animal waste and hides were promptly removed, but usual household waste remained, exposing flaws in Srinagar’s waste management during festive peaks.”
Over the course of three days during Eid-ul-Adha, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) deployed special vehicles for lifting the animal hides but unfortunately the garbage lifting was suspected for all the three days. While collecting animal hides is an unavoidable compulsion for SMC authorities as their collection requires special attention to maintain cleanliness and prevent health hazards, the delay caused in the collection of garbage a usual practice carried out by SMC caused a widespread inconvenience to people across Srinagar. Unfortunately SMC suspended its routine garbage pickup operations in most parts of Srinagar for all three days of Eid-ul-Adha. This pause in waste collection disrupted the normal cleanup schedule, leading to significant accumulations of garbage in many parts of the summer capital. Residents, who pay regular user charges for waste management services, faced the consequences of this decision. Instead of regular trash collection, only animal waste and hides were removed, leaving their usual household waste untouched for several days. This situation highlighted a major inconvenience in Srinagar’s waste management system. The city, like many other towns in Kashmir and across the country, struggles with managing large volumes of solid waste, especially during festivals. Eid-ul-Adha is a time when waste increases sharply. Animal hides, along with other waste, pile up quickly, demanding efficient and immediate attention from civic authorities. The failure to properly manage both animal remains and household trash during these days can trigger health risks for obvious reasons. While removing animal hides is an unavoidable duty during Eid-ul-Adha, it should not come at the cost of neglecting regular garbage collection. Residents often depend on scheduled pickups, which help keep their environment clean and safe. During Eid, the accumulation of domestic waste in bins becomes more pronounced. When this waste is not collected for three days, the resulting pile-up can lead to foul odors, the spread of germs, and attraction of pests such as rats and flies. These conditions not only create discomfort but also pose serious health hazards, especially for children and elderly residents. The challenge of handling both animal hides and household waste simultaneously is not unique to Srinagar.
“Clear guidelines for civic workers should ensure both animal waste and household garbage are prioritized, with efficient routes and staffing. Effective communication with residents is crucial for waste pickup coordination during Eid-ul-Adha, promoting proper waste disposal. This minimizes health risks and enhances living conditions through prompt and proper waste management by SMC.”
In many metropolitan cities of the country like Delhi, Mumbai, or Bengaluru, the garbage collection teams are always asked to do simultaneously the jobs of lifting both the animal remains and as well as regular garbage. These tasks require careful planning and sufficient manpower. It is not enough to focus only on animal waste during Eid. Experts say that administrative wisdom and strategic planning are essential for managing such festivals effectively. After all it is for SMC to assign dedicated teams to handle both tasks simultaneously. This approach helps prevent foul smells and health hazards. It also ensures that streets stay cleaner, making the city more livable during and after the festival. Such measures require foresight and effective coordination. Clear guidelines should be issued to civic workers, instructing them to prioritize both animal waste and household garbage. This means planning routes and deploying enough staff so that neither task is neglected. It also involves good communication between civic authorities and residents, so that residents know when to expect waste pickup and what to do with their animal remains. In the end, the goal should be to make sure that all waste—animal hides and household garbage—are dealt with properly and promptly during Eid-ul-Adha. After all Proper waste management not only keeps the city clean but also safeguards public health.By ensuring quick and efficient removal of both animal waste and ordinary trash, civic authorities of SMC can reduce the risks of disease outbreaks and improve the living conditions of residents, especially during such busy and challenging times.
