As someone born in Srinagar, I have always taken immense pride in calling Kashmir my birthplace. Every visit to the Valley rekindles cherished memories and reinforces my emotional bond with its majestic mountains, crystal-clear rivers, verdant meadows, and serene lakes. Sadly, my recent visit left me with emotions very different from those I had anticipated.

During my travels through Srinagar, Pahalgam, Sonmarg, Baramulla and Aharbal, I was deeply distressed by the widespread presence of plastic waste. PET bottles, snack wrappers, plastic bags and other non-biodegradable refuse lay scattered along roads, tourist destinations and public spaces. Nothing, however, was more heartbreaking than seeing plastic waste strewn along the banks of the pristine River Sind, a river whose crystal clear water has long symbolised the purity and grandeur of Kashmir.

The sight was painful not merely because it offended the eye, but because it reflected a growing indifference towards one of nature’s greatest gifts. Plastic pollution is no longer merely an aesthetic concern. It threatens rivers, forests, wildlife, agriculture, tourism and,........

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