Rajouri | [The Rajouri Times ]
In what locals are calling a full-scale environmental crime, more than 10,000 households’ daily waste is now being dumped directly into the Darhali river after the Municipal Committee Rajouri (MCR) allegedly removed a public dustbin from Darhali Bridge in exchange for a hefty bribe.
The decision has turned the river into an open garbage canal, with plastic, food waste, medical refuse, and household trash choking the water body every single day. Residents say the dustbin served as the only organized waste disposal point for thousands of homes and nearby commercial establishments. Its removal has left people with no option but to dump waste straight into the river.
The timing of the act has further enraged the public. On the same day, the District Administration Rajouri, led by the Deputy Commissioner, was publicly showcasing drives to clean water bodies and protect the environment. While one arm of the administration spoke of conservation, the other allegedly facilitated mass pollution for cash.
“This is not negligence, this is deliberate destruction,” said locals. “Waste from more than 10,000 houses does not disappear. It ends up in the river because the municipality removed the dustbin without any alternative arrangement.” Sanitary Inspectors was repeatedly contacted but he every time shielded the peoples who removed the Dustbin.
People have openly accused certain MCR officials of selling public sanitation for bribes, demanding an immediate vigilance and anti-corruption probe. They argue that the act violates environmental laws and directly sabotages the Deputy Commissioner’s cleanliness initiatives.
Environmental experts warn that continuous dumping at this scale could cause irreversible ecological damage to the Darhali river, affecting aquatic life and public health across the region.
Public outrage is growing rapidly, with demands for:
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Immediate reinstallation of the dustbin
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Identification and suspension of guilty officials
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Criminal action for environmental damage
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A transparent, permanent waste-management plan
If immediate action is not taken, Darhali risks becoming a permanent dumping ground — a grim reminder of how corruption can destroy both governance and nature.
Officials of the Municipal Committee Rajouri have not issued any clarification despite repeated attempts for comment.
Author: therajouritimes
Lakkar Mandi Janipur Jammu
