Unbearable stench, mounds of garbage and prowling dogs are the new hallmark of the famed ski resort of Gulmarg.

Thanks to Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), the resort has been turned into a big garbage dump at a time when tourism season has just started in the valley. Around three tons of degradable and non-bio degradable waste is being dumped everyday in around three square kilometer area in Gulmarg area.

Unable to find a suitable dumping site, authorites have brazenly chosen a nearby site in the forest along Baba Reshi route to dump the waste. Locals said the link road leading to the Baba Reshi is currently being used as permanent dumping site by the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA).

What has compounded the problem is that the garbage is spilling into the nearby KhaiKoul stream. Locals said KhaiKoul stream runs along the dumping site and is source of potable water for around dozen villages in the area. “The GDA has polluted our only water resource. We were being supplied water from this stream, but now we aren’t able to use it as it is not fit for consumption”, said Ghulam

“The GDA has polluted our only water resource. We were being supplied water from this stream, but now we aren’t able to use it as it is not fit for consumption”, said Ghulam Mohommad of Khaipora Tangmarg.

Situated at an altitude of 2650 meters, Gulmarg is famous for its lush green meadows and world class Alps which is biggest draw for the skiers during winter. The resort is also home to Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth highest peak.

The USP of the resort has one of the world’s highest rope-way known as Gulmarg Gandola which ascends from 2650 meters to the height of 3980 meters. Gulmarg was declared seventh top ski resort of Asia by the CNN International in 2010.

However, the dumping site in Gulmarg is proving to be a big turn-off for the tourists who want to relive the magic of Europe in the ski resort also known as Switzerland of East. “The stench is limited to the place of dumping because of the snow. Come summer, it will spread to the whole area”, said Adil Ahmad, who works as a tourist guide in the Gulmarg. Sources said former chief minister Omar Abdullah had approved the installation of incinerators to scientifically

“The stench is limited to the place of dumping because of the snow. Come summer, it will spread to the whole area”, said Adil Ahmad, who works as a tourist guide in the Gulmarg. Sources said former chief minister Omar Abdullah had approved the installation of incinerators to scientifically

Sources said former chief minister Omar Abdullah had approved the installation of incinerators to scientifically dispose the garbage in 2011, but GDA failed to procure the no objection certificate from the pollution control board. “The Engineering wing of GDA procured the machinery for the incinerators but could not start the functioning due to the issue with the Pollution control board”, said Bashir Ahmad, Executive Engineer Gulmarg Development Authority. The GDA had identified a place for the installation of incinerators at Kaavnaar near Tangmarg.

“The Engineering wing of GDA procured the machinery for the incinerators but could not start the functioning due to the issue with the Pollution control board”, said Bashir Ahmad, Executive Engineer Gulmarg Development Authority. The GDA had identified a place for the installation of incinerators at Kaavnaar near Tangmarg.

The GDA had identified a place for the installation of incinerators at Kaavnaar near Tangmarg. However some locals and Pollution Control Board objected to the proposal. “As far as the Khai Kouol stream is concerned, Yes, I admit that the problem is there. But we have covered the stream with concrete slab”, Ahmad said. Waking up to the environmental disaster, GDA has recently invited tenders for the installation of Electro Magnetic waste dis-integrator at the tourist spot. Officials are optimistic the machine would help in proper disposal of bio and

Waking up to the environmental disaster, GDA has recently invited tenders for the installation of Electro Magnetic waste dis-integrator at the tourist spot. Officials are optimistic the machine would help in proper disposal of bio and non bio degradable waste.

“By the end of July, we will be able to find a suitable alternative to the open dumping site in Gulmarg. We have identified three places, where these machines will be put and there is no need of NOC from the pollution control board”, said Ahmad.

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