The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Jan 21: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) welcomes the Jammu & Kashmir Government’s Govt’s decision of remediation of Achan Dumping site and Chief Secretary Mr Atal Dulloo’s recent directive to set a deadline for municipalities in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to prepare comprehensive Waste Management Action Plans. This decision, made during a review meeting with the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD), marks a significant step towards enhancing the capacity of Municipal Corporations and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the region to process solid and liquid waste effectively.
According to statement issued by Convener EPF, Faiz Bakshi which states that EPG strongly believes that effective waste management is not only vital for environmental conservation but also essential for safeguarding the health and well-being of communities, particularly those residing near hazardous waste sites.
Despite previous court orders arising from the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) EPG vs Union of India & ors, aimed at enforcing the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, adherence to these directions has been inconsistent with very little implementation of the government. The EPG has been determined working to enforce and implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, advocating for adherence to environmental regulations, and securing court directions aimed at improving waste management practices across various jurisdictions.
In this context, Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat’s recent advocacy efforts before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) have underscored the urgent need for effective waste management policies and the government’s obligation to comply with environmental laws.
In light of this, the EPG is optimistic that the pragmatic approach of Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo will lead to genuine implementation of these directives, yielding tangible results. During the meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo urged the concerned authorities to develop comprehensive, component-wise waste management plans for both Municipal Corporations and other municipalities in J&K. He directed the Municipal Commissioners of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to formulate scientific plans for treating the solid and liquid waste generated daily by households, considering future population growth and waste generation projections.
In addition to welcoming the directive on waste management plans, the EPG applauds the government’s recent approval for the remediation of the Achan Dumping Site. This project aims to remediate approximately 11 lakh metric tons of legacy waste using bio-mining and bio-remediation techniques, with an estimated implementation cost of Rs 60.50 crores. The proposal is set to be discussed in the upcoming cabinet meeting.
The remediation initiative at the Achan Dumping Site represents a significant advancement in addressing the long-standing waste management challenges in Kashmir. The EPG views this approval as a commendable move that aligns with sustainable development goals while promoting public health and ecological integrity in the region.
Furthermore, the EPG urges the government to ensure adherence to all applicable environmental regulations and standards during the implementation of the remediation project. This commitment will safeguard community health and ecological systems throughout the process.
Moreover, EPG demands that a sufficient number of common Sewage Water Treatment Plants be established for the treatment of liquid waste most of which gets directly discharged into River Jhelum and other local bodies which is a source of significant health hazards. The Government of India has sanctioned two STPs of large capacities under the SWM Scheme – one each for Jammu & Srinagar Cantonment areas – but the same has fallen victim to the non-preparation of DPRs. If necessary and immediate action is not taken the approval will become infructuous/redundant.
The EPG also calls for an extension of the deadline for the proposed amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Unified Building Byelaws (UBBL) 2021. This extension would allow for comprehensive debate and stakeholder engagement, facilitating a thorough review process to ensure that the regulatory framework for waste management is robust and effective.
EPG remains dedicated to supporting the government and stakeholders in developing sustainable waste management strategies, ultimately leading to cleaner and safer living conditions for all residents.
The first sem scheme prepared in eighties by UEED envisaged the installation of a mechanical compost plant at Noorbagh within a period of five years during which period Achan dumping site could be used for sanitary landfill. For the compost plant Tractel Turfor a British company was prepared to supply it’s spare turner at the half price of Rs.2.50 crores as otherwise they had to carry it back to England. Subsequently due to the callous attitude of the authorities neither the mechanical compost plant came up nor the Achan site was filled scientifically resulting in to hazardous stench all around the area. The test conducted reveal that major part of our solid waste is compostable and the compost generated could enrich our agricultural soil. All along the authorities have turned deaf year to this proposal for which initial DPR was prepared by UEED in collaboration with Delhi based Universal Enviroscience.