A few months back, an expert team formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) inspected Achan landfill site and expressed serious concern over the mishandling of solid waste management in Srinagar. Earlier, the tribunal in May had directed this expert team to suggest remedial measures, including setting up waste processing facilities at zero landfills and submitting the report within eight weeks. The locals of the area have been repeatedly expressing their concern about hazardous and unscientific waste management in Achan. The main issue with the landfill site is the absence of a waste segregation machine, and untreated leachate flowing into the nearby wetlands and lakes. The mismanaged site is emanating deadly gases and pumping poisonous leachate in liquid form. This has made the lives of the locals residing near the site very difficult. It is not the issue of constant pungent smell in the air but of hazardous gases and leachate. The agricultural land around the dumping site is getting impacted badly. Farmers of Saidapora, near the dumping site, claim the acres of their agriculture land is turning barren due to the leachate. The locals have been raising alarm time and again, however, the authorities seem unconcerned.
Way back in 2006, the locals of the area had entered into an agreement with local representatives and municipal authorities regarding the shifting of the dumping site. However, no further progress was made. While the administration claims to make Srinagar a smart city, the waste management still remains a big issue constantly troubling the residents of Srinagar city. The city lacks sufficient infrastructure for waste collection, transportation, and disposal. The existing facilities are often outdated and inefficient. One of the biggest problems is lack of proper segregation of waste at the source. Most waste is mixed, which makes recycling and composting difficult. There are also limited recycling facilities in Srinagar, which leads to a significant amount of recyclable materials ending up in landfills.
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Lack of proper waste management at popular tourist like Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam is also a serious issue. As these places witness huge rush of tourists, there is no proper waste disposal mechanism in place. In Gulmarg, the dumping sites within the forest have started impacting the health of soil and trees. Need is to focus on proper disposal and management of waste to save these tourist resorts.
It is responsibility of the concerned authorities to ensure scientific management of the waste in Achan as well as other dumping sites. Let the authorities wake up to the reality that the quality of life for people living near the landfill is severely affected due to the constant foul smell, health issues, and environmental degradation. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach involving improved waste management practices, investment in modern infrastructure, strict regulatory oversight, and active community participation in waste segregation and disposal.
