Srinagar: Current environmental status of the summer capital is within safe limits and to sustain it needs active involvement of authorities and general public, an official document states.
It said an estimated amount of Rs 307 lakh is required for restoration of various water bodies in Srinagar as per the District Environmental Plan 2021.
The plan also mentions that entire environmental preservation and conservation cannot be done only at the administration level “but public participation and behavioral changes have to be increased many folds to achieve the target of clean environment.”
It added that it can be achieved through mass awareness and creation of a feeling of belongingness amongst the populace.
“The District Environment Plan emphasizes on various action plans for different thematic areas. In district Srinagar, the current Environmental Status is within safe limits. A lot of efforts in terms of all types of waste management have been made practical by the active involvement of authorities and the general public,” it reads.
It added that the task of conserving and preserving our environment during these modern times is quite Herculean. “The only solution to this critical environmental issue is people’s mass participation in saving the environment.”
It adds that mass afforestation drives and stopping the use of fossil fuels can help solve this problem.
“Various gaps have been identified in each and every action area. The action plans, which are suggested, have to be implemented to minimize these gaps,” it reads.
An official informed that District Development Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad recently convened a meeting to discuss and review the District Environment Plan. The DC asked concerned authorities to conduct a thorough study to identify the exact pollution level in the district to facilitate formulation of the Environment Plan as per the National Green Tribunals (NGT’s) latest guidelines and the local needs.
The DC directed the officers of all line departments to work in coordinated manner and put in extra efforts in formulation and implementation of effective District Environment Plan. The official informed that detailed discussions on methods and plan for segregation and disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, in the light of solid, liquid, plastic, biomedical, e-waste management, water quality management and noise pollution monitoring and other activities were also held.
“The meeting also held deliberations on steps taken to control water and air pollution, implementation of new technologies to reduce the waste and pollution, besides preservation of water bodies and management of mining activities in the district,” he said.