J&K Govt Plans Circular Economy Framework to Cut Waste, Boost Green Jobs

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, June 18: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is preparing a Circular Economy framework aimed at transforming the Union Territory into a resource-efficient, low-waste and environmentally sustainable economy, with a focus on improving waste recovery, reducing landfill dependence and generating green livelihoods.

The proposed framework was reviewed by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo during a meeting held in Srinagar on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD) Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation Devansh Yadav, CiTaG professionals and other officials.

According to officials, the policy seeks to convert waste materials into productive resources while safeguarding the ecological integrity of Jammu and Kashmir’s lakes, wetlands, forests and mountain landscapes. The framework has been developed in response to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, judicial directives on waste management and growing waste generation linked to tourism and pilgrimage activities.

The policy recognises J&K’s unique opportunities arising from its tourism sector, pilgrimage circuits, horticulture economy valued at nearly ₹12,000 crore and mountainous terrain.

A key feature of the framework is a Differentiated Circularity Framework, under which urban local bodies (ULBs) would be assigned responsibilities based on their waste generation levels, infrastructure readiness and operational capacities.

Under the proposed Basic Circular Model, smaller and remote ULBs would establish ward-level Reduce-Reuse-Recycle (RRR) centres, encourage household composting and depend on cluster-level processing facilities to minimise transportation costs.

Medium-sized urban centres would adopt the Circular+ Model, which envisages decentralised composting systems, mini material recovery facilities, small-scale biogas plants, repair-and-reuse initiatives and stricter compliance mechanisms for bulk waste generators.

For Srinagar and Jammu cities, the framework proposes an advanced Circular++ Model, positioning them as regional circular economy hubs equipped with integrated resource recovery systems, biomethanation and compressed biogas plants, construction and demolition waste processing units, wastewater reuse systems and digital traceability mechanisms.

The framework also proposes a cluster-based approach with seven priority clusters, including a Srinagar Valley organics and lake-sensitive circularity cluster, an apple and horticulture biomass cluster, a pilgrimage and tourism circular services cluster, an artisan and upcycling cluster, and an urban water reuse and sludge recovery cluster.

Nine priority value chains have been identified for intervention, including dry waste recovery, plastic recycling, horticulture biomass utilisation, tourism waste management, wastewater reuse, repair and refurbishment systems, and artisan-based circular production networks.

Officials said implementation of the policy would follow a four-phase roadmap beginning with institutional activation and baseline assessments, followed by pilot projects, large-scale replication and eventually the establishment of mature circular systems with long-term financial sustainability.

Chief Secretary Dulloo stressed the need for a practical, technology-driven and financially sustainable framework capable of delivering measurable environmental, economic and social benefits. He called for stronger inter-departmental coordination, convergence of existing schemes and robust digital monitoring mechanisms to ensure successful implementation.

Once operational, the framework is expected to improve waste recovery rates, strengthen ecological protection, promote circular enterprises and enhance urban governance across Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.