Srinagar, June 22: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), which routinely imposes penalties on individuals for improper waste disposal, has come under criticism after a large quantity of garbage was dumped along a roadside outside Iqbal Park in Srinagar on Monday. According to eyewitnesses, an SMC waste collection vehicle, reportedly without a visible registration number, halted near the gate of Iqbal Park and unloaded garbage directly on the roadside, leaving behind a sizeable heap of mixed waste in full public view. The incident occurred along one of the city's busy thoroughfares and drew the attention of commuters, pedestrians and motorists passing through the area. Several people present at the site questioned the rationale behind dumping waste on a public roadside, particularly by an agency entrusted with maintaining sanitation and enforcing waste-management regulations. The garbage heap, consisting largely of plastic waste and other refuse, remained exposed along the roadside, raising concerns about hygiene, traffic safety and the visual appearance of the area. Commuters said they were surprised to witness the dumping, arguing that residents are routinely warned against littering and face penalties for violating sanitation rules. The incident has prompted questions about waste-handling practices and whether the same standards enforced upon the public are being observed by civic agencies themselves. People urged the authorities to clarify the circumstances under which the waste was dumped and to ensure that garbage collected from various parts of the city is transported to designated disposal sites rather than being left on public roads.