On an average Jammu and Kashmir generates 3134 tonne solid waste per day. In the face of “low level of services” this causes threat to the public health in particular and environment quality in general, reveals a draft action plan for municipal solid waste management 2018.
According to the draft policy document, the total solid waste generated in the state is 3134 tonne per day. The waste generation is increasing with each passing year, it says.
Since 2012, the waste generation in the state has increased by over 18 per cent. “In 2012, the total waste generated was recorded at 2568 TPD (tonne per day) which went up to 2704 TDP in 2013, 2844 TPD in 2014 and 2987 TDP in 2015.”
The policy document attributes the increase to the growing population.
However, the policy highlights the failure of the urban local bodies and municipal bodies to “tackle the waste disposal on scientific basis” despite the municipal agencies spending 5-25 percent of their annual budget on these activities.
“The magnitude and density of urban population is increasing rapidly as a consequence of which the municipal agencies spend about 5-25 percent of their budget on solid waste management,” it states, adding that even then most of them are unable to provide a proper system to tackle the current situation. “Despite such heavy expenditure, the present level of service in many urban areas is so low that there is a threat to the public health in particular and the environment quality in general,” it states.
Collection and transportation activities constitute approximately 80-95 percent of the total budget of SWM. Hence, it formulates a key component in determining the “economics of the entire SWM system”.
“On the contrary, disposal and treatment of waste is an underinvested area and open dumping, uncontrolled and poorly managed landfills are a common feature across most Indian cities and towns. The state of Jammu and Kashmir has the same type of scenario,” reads the document.
The policy has been drafted as per the National Green Tribunal order dated 15.01.2015 whereby all the states and UTS were directed to prepare an action plan at the state level.
Meanwhile, the housing and urban development department has sought suggestions/views from the stakeholders on the state policy and solid waste management strategy, 2017 and draft action plan for municipal solid waste management.
According to a notification issued by the department, the state government has prepared the draft action plan for municipal solid waste management J&K-2018 in pursuance to solid waste management rules, 2016 (Rule-15).
“The draft action plan is available on the department’s website http://jkhudd.gov.in/ for providing suggestions/comments,” it said, adding that the public at large and the concerned stakeholders are requested to visit the department’s website and furnish suggestions/comments within 30 days, so that the action plan is finalized for implementation in letter and spirit.