Ga’bal :The Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA), has issued a comprehensive circular directing all stakeholders in the region to comply strictly with the Solid Waste Management Rules, National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines and relevant environmental laws to curb indiscriminate garbage disposal and protect the fragile ecosystem of the high-altitude tourist destination.
The circular, issued today by the Chief Executive Officer of the SDA, highlights concerns raised by the NGT over unscientific dumping of municipal solid waste, littering along roads, open spaces, water bodies and popular tourist spots in the Sonamarg belt.
All hoteliers, guest house owners, restaurant operators, shopkeepers, pony and tent operators, tour agents, outsourced agencies and all line departments within the SDA’s jurisdiction have been instructed to strictly comply with the directions with immediate effect.
Under the order, all waste generators are required to undertake mandatory four-stream segregation at source into wet waste, dry waste, domestic hazardous waste and sanitary waste. Separate covered and labelled bins must be provided within premises in accordance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and mixing of waste has been prohibited.
The circular further bans dumping of garbage on roadsides, drains, open land, forests, riverbanks and other public places, adding that open burning of solid or plastic waste will attract penal action.
Establishments have been directed to hand over only segregated waste to authorised agencies and ensure transportation exclusively to the Sarbal Solid Waste Management Plant notified by the authority. Disposal of waste at unauthorised sites has been strictly prohibited.
Adequate dustbins both within and outside establishments are to be installed to prevent littering, failing which the absence of proper bin facilities will be treated as non-compliance, the order states. It also reiterates the prohibition on use, stocking and distribution of banned single-use plastic items, and mandates channelisation of plastic waste to authorised recyclers.
All line departments have been asked to ensure safe transportation, scientific processing and disposal of solid waste at the Sarbal plant as per approved standards. Continuous monitoring and enforcement drives are to be conducted.
The authority has appointed Bashid Ahmad Mir, MTS, SDA, Sonamarg, for regular field inspections and to impose on-the-spot penalties as authorised by the competent authority. The circular further states that any negligence, violation or deviation will invite environmental compensation, spot penalties, sealing of premises, cancellation of registration and initiation of legal proceedings under the Environment Protection Act and the Solid Waste Management Rules without further notice.