Tourists shouldn’t use plastic and polythene at tourist resort: Hanief Balkhi
Srinagar, Jul 29: Three days after the High Court directed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) Hanief Balki to identify and call upon the companies contributing towards pollution for evolving the mechanism, the GDA Monday held a meeting to ensure the ban on products leading to pollution at the ski resort.
“We told different companies, whose products lead to pollution at Gulmarg to play their role to ensure the High Court order is implemented in letter and spirit. It is their corporate responsibility as well to ensure the cleanness not only at Gulmarg, but at also other tourist destinations. However, till now they have not contributed to it till now,” he told.
The CEO said they have told these companies clearly that there no plastic waste should be generated due to their products in Gulmarg. “A large percentage of solid waste generated at Gulmarg was wrappers and containers of junk foods, biscuits, snacks and soft drink cans, manufactured by multinational companies. I also appeal to the tourists visiting Gulmarg to ensure they don’t throw waste on roads and other places at Gulmarg. They shouldn’t use plastic and polythene. We will encourage oil free machines at Gulmarg,” he said.
Other decision taken today, he said, was related to the hoteliers at the ski resort. “They too have to play their role in segregation of waste. They should not mix polythene and bottles with food waste as it creates lot of hurdles when the waste is processed by machines. We will submit the report to the Hon’ble High Court accordingly. We will make Gulmarg the clean tourist destination,” Balkhi added.