There have been positive developments off-late in Srinagar to safeguard its eco-fragile environment both at government and public levels. Major one has been Srinagar’s lone garbage processing facility at Achan area in Eidgah. The garbage dump has made the lives of people of the entire city miserable due to the emanation of a pungent smell in the last several years due to unscientific garbage disposal.Taking note of public outcry and threats to health, the intervention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Committee on Environment of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has given people a ray of hope of turning the stinking facility as state-of-the-art waste treatment facility. In May this year, the Council of Ministers headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accorded approval for the establishment of an 800 TPD Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Project at Achan, Srinagar, at an estimated cost of Rs 361 crore. The project envisages strengthening scientific waste management infrastructure, ensuring sustainable disposal and processing of municipal solid waste in an environmentally responsible manner.

It has been learnt that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for establishment of the Integrated Solid Waste Management facility at Achan by Srinagar has been technically vetted by the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar.The SMC has informed the Committee on Environment that it has initiated large-scale biomining and bioremediation of legacy waste at the Achan dumpsite—........

© Greater Kashmir