The dream of “visually clean” villages under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II seems distant for Jammu and Kashmir, with a glaring gap in Plastic Waste Management (PWM) infrastructure. While Ladakh shines with progress of 15 out of total 31 blocks, J&K’s mere 3 functional Plastic Waste Management Units (PWMUs) out of 285 blocks expose a critical shortcoming. The Parliament’s Standing Committee on Water Resources rightly raises serious concerns. Plastic waste isn’t just an eyesore; it’s an environmental and public health hazard. The lack of PWMUs hinders segregation, collection, and responsible disposal, leading to plastic pollution across landscapes. This not only impacts aesthetics but also harms ecosystems and jeopardises public health. The Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines clearly mandate PWMUs in each block. The Government acknowledges this and highlights planned setups in its Action Taken Report. However, the slow progress in J&K demands deeper scrutiny. Are there funding constraints, implementation hurdles, or a lack of urgency? Understanding the bottlenecks is crucial to finding solutions.
Learning from Ladakh’s success story offers valuable insights. Perhaps replicating their model, addressing specific challenges in J&K’s context, and ensuring community involvement can accelerate progress. Additionally, exploring public-private partnerships (PPP) and innovative waste management technologies could prove beneficial. But infrastructure alone isn’t enough. Behaviour change is vital. Awareness campaigns educating communities about responsible waste management, segregation at source, and the dangers of plastic pollution are essential. Empowering Gram Panchayats with resources and training will further strengthen the mission. The Standing Committee’s call for expediting PWMU establishment across J&K blocks resonates strongly. This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about safeguarding the environment and public health. The Central Government should intensify its efforts to provide technical assistance, financial support, and capacity-building programmes to strengthen institutional capabilities at the grassroots level. The Government must act with urgency, address the roadblocks, and ensure J&K catches up with the national mission’s vision of clean and healthy villages. It is time to turn the tide on plastic waste and create a cleaner, healthier future for all in J&K.
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