Expressing serious concern over the growing menace of plastic pollution in Jammu and Kashmir, the Committee on Environment of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday urged the government to take stringent measures to curb the use of plastic, particularly single-use plastic (SUP), across the Union Territory.
The Committee, chaired by CPI-M MLA M Y Tarigami, observed that indiscriminate use of plastic had emerged as a major environmental challenge, adversely affecting public health, polluting water bodies and degrading the ecological balance of the region.
“On behalf of the Committee, I appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to consider issuing an Executive Order for imposing a comprehensive ban on the use of plastic across the Union Territory in the larger interest of environmental protection, public health and sustainable development,” Tarigami stated, while chairing the second meeting of LA panel in assembly secretariat in the summer capital.
The Chairman called upon the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) to intensify enforcement measures and ensure strict implementation of laws aimed at eliminating the use of single-use plastics, especially in and around tourist destinations, religious shrines and environmentally sensitive areas.
J&K LA panel on Environment also took serious note of the ongoing indefinite strike by sanitation workers engaged by various Urban Local Bodies as CLs (Casual/Contractual Labourers) and DRWs (Daily Rated Workers), who are protesting and seeking regularisation.
Describing sanitation workers as an indispensable component of urban civic services, the Committee directed the Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDD), to initiate immediate dialogue with the agitating workers and make earnest efforts to resolve the impasse by examining their demands sympathetically.
During deliberations, the Committee members unanimously stressed the need for coordinated action by the Pollution Control Committee, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to make Jammu and Kashmir plastic-free.
The members further urged government departments and public institutions to discourage the use of plastic in official meetings, offices and public functions.
The panel had sought a comprehensive report on the environmental and ecological impact of the Achan landfill site in Srinagar and Bhagwati Nagar dumping site in Jammu, including the status of legacy waste remediation, scientific waste processing, compliance with National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives and progress achieved under the proposed Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Project at Achan.
It had also directed the concerned departments to furnish details regarding the impact of waste management activities on Anchar lake, surrounding habitations and ecosystems, besides measures taken to prevent leachate generation, groundwater contamination, air pollution and public health hazards.
The Chairman directed the Assembly Secretariat to ensure that observations contained in CAG Report No 6 of 2025 on Solid Waste Management in Urban Local Bodies (Paras 3.1.1 to 3.1.11) are placed before the Committee during its next meeting.
The panel also discussed pollution concerns relating to the river Tawi, Surinsar lake and Mansar lake and sought detailed information from the concerned departments. It directed officers to undertake on-the-spot inspections and submit reports on measures required for conservation and restoration of these water bodies.
The panel reviewed the status of drains and nullahs discharging sewage and wastewater into the River Tawi, the extent of pollution caused thereby, progress in interception and treatment projects, implementation of sewerage infrastructure and measures being undertaken to prevent the discharge of untreated sewage into the river.
It further sought details from the Jammu Municipal Corporation regarding initiatives taken for restoration, rejuvenation and conservation of ponds, lakes and other water bodies within municipal limits, including efforts to revive encroached and degraded water bodies and restore their ecological, cultural and community significance.
Several members raised issues of environmental concern in their respective constituencies during the meeting. After detailed discussions, the Chairman issued necessary directions to the officers present and asked them to take immediate remedial measures and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) at the next meeting of the Committee.
Panel member MLA Devyani Rana, during the deliberations, expressed serious concern over the impact of sewage leakages on groundwater quality and sought a comprehensive assessment of the issue across urban areas.
Devyani also highlighted the deteriorating condition of the ecologically important Mansar and Surinsar lakes in Jammu and stressed the need for immediate conservation and restoration measures to protect the twin heritage water bodies.
She further sought details regarding the garbage collection, segregation and scientific disposal mechanisms being adopted by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), including the status of waste processing facilities and dumping sites.
Devyani emphasised that improper waste disposal posed a significant threat to public health and the environment and called for strengthening solid waste management systems in Jammu city.
The panel took note of the concerns and stressed the importance of sustainable waste management practices, protection of water resources and prevention of groundwater contamination.
Another committee member MLA Baldev Raj Sharma requested the committee to undertake a comprehensive visit to Katra and Vaishnodevi shrine to ensure effective sewage system and waste treatment all along the shrine route to safeguard ecology of the area.
The meeting was also attended by other members of the Committee viz., Prof Gharu Ram, Showkat Hussain Ganie, Javaid Ahmad Mirchal, Salman Sagar, Javaid Riyaz (Bedar) and Rameshwar Singh.
The members actively participated in the deliberations and raised various issues relating to environmental protection, plastic pollution, solid waste management, conservation of water bodies and public health concerns in their respective constituencies.
Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Chairman JKPCC, Commissioners of SMC and JMC, Director Urban Local Bodies, Secretary, JKLA and other senior officers of J&K Legislative Assembly Secretariat were present in the meeting.
