With Srinagar city generating nearly 450 metric tonne solid waste daily, the authorities have failed to address the menace notwithstanding the financial assistance available from the union government for implementation of much-needed solid waste management rules.
The waste is stored at Achan, the only dumping site in the Srinagar city.
According to experts, due to ever increasing population and urbanization, the waste management has emerged as a huge challenge in Srinagar.
However, according to them, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has failed to implement the ‘Solid Waste Management Rules’ (SWMR) aimed to dispose of the bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste on scientific lines.
Under SWMR, segregation of waste at source has been declared important process as it solves half the city’s problem of waste management.
“The fact remains the SMC has also failed to procure adequate men and machinery for scientific disposal of solid waste through segregation, collection, treatment and disposal of waste,” experts said.
Sources said the SMC has just around 120 hoppers against the need of round 600 to collect and transport segregated waste from municipal wards.
Each municipal ward must have at least two hoppers, one to transport degradable waste and another for non-biodegradable.
In 2017, a pilot project was started in few municipal wards and people were educated about segregation of waste at source.
They were also provided with two colour coated dustbins, one each for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. “However, the sorry state of affairs is that in absence of hoppers, the SMC officials mix the segregated waste by throwing it in same hopper for transportation,” sources said.
Similarly, services of some NGOs were hired as information, education and communication partners to spread awareness among masses in municipal wards about the waste and its issues. Later, within after few months, the campaign was suspended in most of the wards.
Waste-to-energy plant
The authorities have even failed to give J&K its first waste-to-energy plant so far. According to sources a contract in this regard has been awarded to a consortium of contractors that is supposed to build the ambitious Rs 120 crore waste-to-energy project.
The project would see the city’s 450 metric ton solid waste converted into low-cost electricity and also facilitate productive disposal of the harmful waste.
Directions for the same were issued on 12 December 2017 by National Green Tribunal, asking the state government to complete the project within 18 months.
One year has passed and the work on this project is yet to begin.
Swachh Bharat Mission
On 3 December 2018, Jammu and Kashmir High Court sought compliance report from the Commissioner, SMC on the implementation of various schemes besides a report indicating the amount spent and the steps taken for the public awareness on Swachh Bharat Mission.
An affidavit dated 14 May 2018 submitted before the HC by the State Government reveals that out of Rs 12.11 crores received from Central government for the purpose, only Rs 1.22 crores have been utilized.
The court remarked that no efforts have been or are being made towards the SWM in the State and said it is essential to address the issue on immediate priority.