Srinagar, Oct 3: Plastic bottles, food wrappers, polythene, and other non-biodegradable waste continue to litter Kashmir’s major ecologically fragile tourist destinations despite repeated bans and enforcement drives.
In Pahalgam, bottles, wrappers and polythene lie along the Lidder and around picnic spots.
Some are caught in pine trees, while waste has also reached forested stretches in Aru, Betab Valley, and Chandanwari.
The Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) imposed a complete ban on carrying and using polythene and other plastic items in February.
The order covers tourist spots, riverbanks, forests, markets, and residential areas under its jurisdiction.
It carries a Rs 2000 fine for littering or dumping banned material.
Residents say the enforcement, however, fades after initial drives.
“The polythene and plastic have deteriorated the beauty of Pahalgam. After issuing orders, the development authority and municipal committee remain active for some days, but soon the drive fizzles out and it is back to square one,” said Muhammad Yousuf, a Pahalgam resident.
“Vigil should be maintained at entry checkpoints and people carrying polythene and plastic should be stopped. Heavy fines should be imposed on violators so that the ban has some deterrent effect,” he said.
PDA CEO Mir Nasrullah Hilal Jery said the authority carries out clean-up operations every day.
“Our team also ensures regular clean-up of polythene, plastic, and food wrappers every day,” he said.
Gulmarg faces the same problem.
Bottles, wrappers and polythene are scattered across its meadows, roadsides and pine forests, particularly around busy stopping and picnic points.
Last month, the Gulmarg Development Authority directed hotels to replace plastic water bottles with glass bottles within a month. The Forest Department is also planning an anti-polythene checkpoint along the Gulmarg-Tangmarg road to prevent banned material from entering the resort.
“We will frisk vehicles and ensure that polythene does not enter Gulmarg. We want to stop it so that we can protect nature,” a forest official said.
Dustbins will also be installed at places where tourists stop for rest and picnics, he said.
GDA CEO Alyas Ahmad said hotel managers had been directed to curb polythene use.
Concerned departments have also been asked to act against violations.
In Sonamarg, plastic bottles, wrappers and polythene are found along the Sindh riverbanks, meadows and busy tourist stretches.
CEO of the Sonamarg Development Authority, Bilal Mukhtar said inspections and awareness campaigns were being conducted and notices were issued to establishments violating the restrictions.
“Dustbins were being installed at vulnerable and high-footfall locations. The collected waste, he said, was being shifted to the Solid Waste Management Plant at Sarbal for segregation and processing,” he said.
The restrictions have been in place for years.
In 2018, the Tourism Department declared tourist units, destinations and resorts across Kashmir, polythene-free. Violations could lead to cancellation of operators’ licences.
Environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat said authorities should stop plastic at entry points.
“Plastic toll posts should be set up at all tourist destinations to stop plastic and polythene from entering, and spot penalties should be imposed on violators,” he said.
Bhat also questioned the functioning of waste-management plants at several tourist destinations.
“Crores of rupees have been spent, but the plants are not fully operational, especially the one at Gulmarg. As a result, all the waste is dumped in the forest area,” he said.
Bhat also called for penalties and environmental compensation against authorities responsible for failing to enforce the restrictions under the Polluter Pays Principle.
“The Supreme Court has empowered Pollution Control Committees and Pollution Control Boards to do so,” he said.
The problem extends beyond Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonamarg.
Plastic, polythene, and other non-biodegradable waste have also been reported from Yousmarg, Doodhpathri, Tosamaidan, Bangus Valley, Gurez valley, Keran valley, Daksum, Kokernag, Chatapal, Verinag, Aharbal, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Warwan valley, and Marwa valley.
With plastic continuing to reach forests, meadows and water bodies, environmentalists say stronger checks at entry points and sustained enforcement are needed to keep Kashmir’s tourist destinations free of banned waste.
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