Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, Expressing serious concern over the growing menace of plastic pollution in Jammu and Kashmir, the Committee on Environment of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday urged the Government to take stringent measures to curb the use of plastic, particularly single-use plastic, across the Union Territory.
The Committee, chaired by M.Y. Tarigami, MLA, observed that indiscriminate use of plastic had emerged as a major environmental challenge, adversely affecting public health, polluting water bodies and degrading the ecological balance of the region.
“On behalf of the Committee, I respectfully appeal to Jenab Omar Abdullah, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, to kindly consider issuing an Executive Order for imposing a comprehensive ban on the use of plastic across the Union Territory in the larger interest of environmental protection, public health and sustainable development.” said M.Y. Tarigami, MLA.
The Chairman called upon the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) to intensify enforcement measures and ensure strict implementation of laws aimed at eliminating the use of single-use plastics, especially in and around tourist destinations, religious shrines and environmentally sensitive areas.
The Committee also took serious note of the ongoing indefinite strike by sanitation workers engaged by various Urban Local Bodies as CLs and DRWs, who are protesting and seeking regularisation .Describing sanitation workers as an indispensable component of urban civic services, the Committee directed the Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, to initiate immediate dialogue with the agitating workers and make earnest efforts to resolve the impasse by examining their demands sympathetically.
During deliberations, Committee members unanimously stressed the need for coordinated action by the Pollution Control Committee, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to make Jammu and Kashmir plastic-free. The Committee further urged government departments and public institutions to discourage the use of plastic in official meetings, offices and public functions.
The Committee sought a comprehensive report on the environmental and ecological impact of the Achan landfill site in Srinagar and Bhagwati Nagar dumping site in Jammu, including the status of legacy waste remediation, scientific waste processing, compliance with National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives and progress achieved under the proposed Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Project at Achan.
It also directed the concerned departments to furnish details regarding the impact of waste management activities on Anchar Lake, surrounding habitations and ecosystems, besides measures taken to prevent leachate generation, groundwater contamination, air pollution and public health hazards.
The Chairman directed the Assembly Secretariat to ensure that observations contained in CAG Report No. 6 of 2025 on Solid Waste Management in Urban Local Bodies (Paras 3.1.1 to 3.1.11) are placed before the Committee during its next meeting. Concerned departments have been asked to be informed well in advance for detailed deliberations.
The Committee also discussed pollution concerns relating to the River Tawi, Surinsar Lake and Mansar Lake, and sought detailed information from the concerned departments. It directed officers to undertake on-the-spot inspections and submit reports on measures required for conservation and restoration of these water bodies.
The panel reviewed the status of drains and nallahs discharging sewage and wastewater into the River Tawi, the extent of pollution caused thereby, progress in interception and treatment projects, implementation of sewerage infrastructure and measures being undertaken to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into the river.
The Committee further sought details from the Jammu Municipal Corporation regarding initiatives taken for restoration, rejuvenation and conservation of ponds, lakes and other water bodies within municipal limits, including efforts to revive encroached and degraded water bodies and restore their ecological, cultural and community significance.
Several members raised issues of environmental concern in their respective constituencies during the meeting. After detailed discussions, the Chairman issued necessary directions to the officers present and asked them to take immediate remedial measures and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) at the next meeting of the Committee.
The meeting was attended by the other Hon’ble Members of the Committee Prof. Gharu Ram, Dr. Baldev Raj Sharma, Showkat Hussain Ganie, Javaid Ahmad Mirchal, Salman Sagar, Javaid Riyaz (Bedar), Rameshwar Singh and Devyani Rana, who actively participated in the deliberations and raised various issues relating to environmental protection, plastic pollution, solid waste management, conservation of water bodies and public health concerns in their respective constituencies. Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Chairman JKPCC, Commissioners ,SMC, JMC, Director Urban Local Bodies, Secretary, JKLA and other senior officers of J&K Legislative Assembly Secretariat were present in the meeting