Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Sept 23: Over half of the waste generated in Kashmir’s famous tourist spot, Pahalgam, in South Kashmir remains untreated due to insufficient waste treatment facilities, posing a threat to the environment of this ecologically sensitive place. The administration claims that they are already considering the required augmentation to address the issue.
According to officials familiar with the details, the existing waste treatment plant in the Sarbal area of Pahalgam has the capacity to treat around 10 metric tonnes of waste daily. However, during peak tourist seasons, the area generates double that amount, leaving a substantial volume of waste untreated.
This not only damages the pristine beauty of the area but also poses a serious threat to its ecology. “In an effort to treat the waste in a scientific manner, the government installed a treatment plant at an estimated cost of around 3 crores. The plant has the capacity to process 10 metric tonnes of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in a day, which was deemed sufficient for the waste generated at that time,” an official said, adding that the waste generation has now increased to around 21 metric tonnes daily, surpassing the capacity of the plant and rendering it insufficient.
Due to the limited capacity of the plant to treat waste, waste accumulates in different places, potentially leading to disastrous impacts on the ecology of this picturesque tourist resort. “Mounds of garbage are often left outside the plant, located in an ecologically sensitive place, causing a detrimental effect on the environment. Measures should be taken to dispose of the waste effectively,” a local said, adding that the stinky odour spreads to nearby areas from the garbage mounds.
Local stakeholders said that they have raised the issue with the director of local bodies, rural sanitation personnel, and other officers in charge. “We were assured that the plant would be upgraded, but no progress has been made so far,” Mushtaq Ahmad, a local activist, said.
Similarly, he added that there is an issue with the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), which was constructed when there were fewer hotels. “With new hotels being built daily, the STP needs to be upgraded to meet the current needs. The government’s inactivity on this matter has drawn criticism, and action is required to address the situation effectively,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of Pahalgam Development Authority, Tariq Naik, told Excelsior that they have already taken the step of augmenting the treatment plant with the Municipal Committee due to the dire need for upgrades, considering the increased footfall and waste generation, “we are also planning to set up more treatment plants outside Pahalgam to further mitigate the waste management issue,” he said.
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