LA Committee reviews ₹361-crore Achan project, seeks action against wetland encroachments

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, July 3: The Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Environment on Thursday reviewed the ₹361-crore Achan waste remediation project during a visit to the Achan Waste Management Site in Srinagar and called for immediate action against illegal encroachments, landfilling and waste dumping in the region’s ecologically sensitive wetlands.

Led by Committee Chairman M. Y. Tarigami, the delegation inspected the city’s primary waste processing facility at Achan and also conducted on-site inspections of the Anchar, Hokersar and Khushal Sar lakes along with their associated wetlands to assess environmental degradation and conservation measures.

The delegation included legislators Mubarik Gul, Javaid Riyaz Bedar, Dr. Sajjad Shafi, Dalip Singh, Salman Sagar and Showkat Hussain Ganie, besides senior officials including Commissioner Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department Mandeep Kaur, Secretary, J&K Legislative Assembly Manoj Kumar Pandit, and Srinagar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Faz Lul Haseeb.

During the inspection, the committee reviewed the functioning of the Achan Waste Management Site, including solid waste processing operations, legacy waste remediation, leachate treatment systems, environmental safeguards and the overall operational efficiency of the facility. It also assessed the status of municipal solid waste management, pollution of water bodies, illegal encroachments and their impact on public health.

Officials briefed the committee on measures being undertaken to strengthen scientific waste processing, improve environmental compliance, enhance sanitation standards and ensure sustainable waste disposal in accordance with prescribed environmental norms.

Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, informed the committee that the civic body is modernising the city’s waste management system through improved door-to-door waste collection, source segregation, expansion of scientific processing and disposal facilities, and upgradation of waste management infrastructure.

The committee stressed the need to adopt modern technologies, innovative waste processing solutions and global best practices to transform the Achan Waste Management Site into a state-of-the-art and environmentally compliant facility. It also emphasised the importance of protecting public health and maintaining high standards of urban cleanliness through efficient scientific waste management.

While appreciating the initiatives taken by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, the committee underscored the need for sustained inter-departmental coordination, continuous monitoring, infrastructure augmentation, scientific management of legacy waste and wider adoption of advanced waste processing technologies.

Expressing concern over rampant illegal landfilling, unauthorised construction and indiscriminate dumping of waste in and around the wetlands, Tarigami said these ecologically sensitive water bodies were facing serious threats from encroachments and unplanned urban expansion.

The committee directed the concerned departments to initiate immediate action, prepare a comprehensive time-bound plan for the protection and restoration of the lakes and wetlands, and submit periodic Action Taken Reports on the progress made.

The visit, according to the committee, reflects its commitment to strengthening environmental governance, promoting scientific municipal solid waste management, enhancing urban sanitation and advancing long-term conservation efforts for a cleaner and more sustainable Srinagar.