Over 1180 tonnes remains unprocessed
NAVVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir is amassing huge solid waste as only 20 per cent is scientifically treated while rest remains untreated. Jammu and Kashmir generates 1,470.3 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day, but only 283.5 tonnes is scientifically treated, according to new data submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Lok Sabha the other day.
The Ministry said that Jammu and Kashmir collected 1,468.3 tonnes per day, indicating that most waste generated in urban areas reaches municipal systems, but the challenge lies in processing capacity, which remains significantly underdeveloped. In contrast, even smaller Union Territories such as Puducherry (564 TPD generated and 564 TPD treated) and Lakshadweep (18 TPD generated and treated) have achieved full processing, while Ladakh treats 7.25 tonnes out of 12.45 tonnes generated daily.
The new data, compiled by the Central Pollution Control Board from State Pollution Control Boards under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, paints a mixed picture for Jammu and Kashmir. While door-to-door collection has expanded through municipal bodies and panchayats, the treatment gap has widened over the years as urbanisation has grown faster than scientific waste management infrastructure. Srinagar and Jammu cities continue to rely heavily on landfills, with legacy waste mounds still awaiting full bioremediation.
The Ministry informed Parliament that under the Solid Waste Management Rules, waste generators are required to segregate waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and domestic hazardous streams. Local authorities are mandated to collect segregated waste from households and commercial establishments, but compliance remains uneven. The Union Government said support is being provided through the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, which aims to create “garbage-free cities” by ensuring 100 per cent segregation, scientific landfill practices, and remediation of old dumpsites.
Officials said technological tools are increasingly being used for monitoring. The Swachhatam digital platform and associated GIS-based applications are meant to improve transparency, enable data-driven decision-making, and allow municipalities to track performance. The Ministry added that the Swachh Survekshan framework continues to play a role in rating cities, pushing local bodies towards higher standards of compliance and citizen participation.
At the national level, India generated 1,85,195 tonnes of solid waste per day in 2023–24, of which 1,79,479 tonnes were collected and 1,14,110 tonnes were treated. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh were among the highest waste generators. The data shows that while many states have improved collection rates, treatment capacity remains uneven. Tamil Nadu treats more than 9,200 tonnes daily, while Uttar Pradesh processes 12,675 tonnes, though both still fall short of total generation.
The Ministry noted that India’s waste management framework increasingly draws from international best practices, including waste hierarchy models that prioritise prevention, reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery, with landfilling treated as the least desirable option. Awareness programmes under the Swachh Bharat Mission continue to push for behavioural changes, especially segregation at source.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the figures underline the urgency to expand treatment infrastructure and reduce dependence on landfills, particularly in Srinagar and Jammu where population density and tourism-driven waste put sustained pressure on municipal systems. Ladakh, though generating significantly less waste, faces logistical constraints due to terrain and scattered settlements.
The Ministry said long-term strategies include strengthening local bodies, increasing recycling rates, improving segregation, and ensuring that environmental standards for processing sites are strictly monitored by State Pollution Control Committees.
