Srinagar's Toxic Mountain: Waste Remediation Begins

Srinagar is embarking on a significant environmental initiative to address its escalating waste management challenges. The city's waste generation has surged, with daily output now at 525 tonnes, a substantial increase from 238 tonnes in 2012, and is projected to reach 800 tonnes by 2030. This new plan focuses on the scientific remediation of the Achan landfill, which currently holds over 11 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation will excavate, stabilize, process, and treat the accumulated waste using advanced machinery and adherence to Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. The goal is to reclaim the landfill site from toxic pollutants and transform the mountainous dump into a usable area. This process is expected to yield valuable by-products, including refuse-derived fuel (RDF), recyclables, and enriched soil for agricultural and construction purposes.

Furthermore, the initiative includes the development of a leachate pond to manage hazardous liquid waste and separate disposal systems for any recovered biomedical or hazardous materials. Comprehensive monitoring through electronic weighbridges, CCTV cameras, and monthly contour surveys will ensure accountability and transparency throughout the 30-month remediation period.