Bilal Veeri CNI

Srinagar July 9 : High-level meeting was held on Tuesday, led by the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, to discuss serious civic issues raised by the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) JK.The meeting was attended by senior officers, including the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, SMC Commissioner,

engineers from various departments, Director of Health Services, and SSP Traffic.UEED,.The GCC team was led by former Divisional Commissioner Naseem Lanker (Retd. IAS) and included retired officers and experts from different fields,.Er. Mohammad Ashraf Fazili Sb(rtd Chief Engr)⁩,

Abdul Rashid Khan (IGP Rtd), ⁨⁨Dr Farooq Ahmad Kaloo⁩( Former Director Animal Husbandry) ,⁨Dr Fiaz Fazili ( Surgeion / HealthCare Policy n Planning expert ),Er. Hakim Iftikhar (Former Chief Town Planner J&K)⁩ ,Er. ⁨Iftikhar A. Drabu, WSP India; Head of Nordics ICRC, , and Mohammad Rafi ( Former Director Education and Dy

comissioner ,Secretary GCC J&K )The group spoke about a number of public issues.One of the main concerns raised was the Achan landfill site, which the group said poses a serious threat to people’s health and the environment. They said that people living in nearby areas like Eidgah, Lal

Bazar, Soura, and even SKIMS hospital could be breathing in harmful gases. These gases, they warned, can cause cancer, breathing problems, infertility, allergies, and a strong foul smell.The GCC requested a proper survey of gas levels in these areas and said that until a permanent

solution is found, authorities must keep checking the air regularly for toxic concentraions. They also asked that people be informed and advised about the risks, and that health guidelines be issued as per OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards, including steps residents should follow to stay safe.Another area of concern was a dumping ground near Jamkash in Hyderpora, where waste disposal trucks are

reportedly dumping garbage. GCC members said that some local women are seen there sorting through waste with their bare hands, without any protection. They called this unsafe and said it must be stopped immediately.The meeting also covered other key issues such as poor drainage and sewer systems, encroachment on public land, no proper planning to prevent floods,

farmlands being turned into construction zones, the GCC also stressed upon the need for better coordination among departments and stronger laws to control unplanned development.Food safety was also discussed. The group called for more checks on food hygiene, additives, and quality to ensure people are not exposed to

health risks.Notably, traffic regulation and traffic bottle necks especially, jehangir chowk , hyderpora chowk , etc was also discussed.The Divisional Commissioner assured the delegation that all these matters would be taken seriously and concerned departments will be asked to take immediate action.