Drain cleaning reveals heaps of dumped plastic in Baramulla

Piles of plastic waste, including thousands of discarded plastic bottles, were recovered during the cleaning of a major drainage near Government Women’s College Baramulla, reflecting how poor civic sense and irresponsible waste disposal by residents are contributing to urban drainage blockages and causing inconvenience to the public.

The authorities recently opened the blocked drain after repeated complaints from residents and commuters about waterlogging and drainage issues in the area.

However, what they found inside was alarming—thousands of plastic bottles and other non-biodegradable waste materials had accumulated within the drainage system, severely obstructing the flow of water.

The scene served as a stark reminder that while government agencies are often blamed for drainage failures, the public also bears a significant share of responsibility for maintaining civic infrastructure.

Officials associated with the cleaning operation said the drain had become virtually clogged with discarded plastic bottles, wrappers, and other waste that had been carelessly thrown into the drainage network over a long period.

The blockage disrupted the natural flow of water which led to the sanitation-related problems in the surrounding areas. A local resident while expressing anger over the clogged drain with plastic waste all around said that dumping of waste into drains is a serious issue which needs to be addressed with the participation of people as well as government departments like municipal councils.

He said municipal council authorities need to clean the drains daily so that accumulation of waste is avoided. At the same time people need to understand that by throwing waste into drains, we are creating problems for ourselves. “During rainfall, these obstructions prevent water from flowing freely, resulting in waterlogging, damage to roads, and inconvenience to the public,” said Arif Bashir, a local resident.