An inevitable disaster

The carrying capacity of rural ecosystem vis a viz, accommodating solid waste is receding due to accumulation solid waste and inefficient, non-scientific mechanism to dispose off the waste. In a fragile ecosystem like Kashmir, even small scale anthropogenic interference can have serious environmental ramifications.

A record 79% deficient rainfall in the peak wintering months this year, it has set alarm bells ringing. Due to climate change we are witnessing extreme weather phenomena in this part of the world. The spring is almost preponed by a month or so. The tragic tale is the drying up of prominent water bodies in the month of February. Imagine the catastrophic consequences of water scarcity in the upcoming summer months. The recent incident of drying up of perennial spring at Mughal Gardens at Achabal Anantnag is trending on social media, and octogenarian people of the area were moved to tears to see the pathetic condition of the spring. They recollected that they have never seen in their life time the drying up of this serene water body. This is not an isolated incident and majority of the water bodies of the region have receded to the lowest level.

Why we are witnessing these extreme weather patterns? The prime reasons surfaces to be increased anthropogenic activities. Every visible sight in rural hamlets is filled with solid waste trash. What is the practical mechanism in place to manage solid waste? Who has the mandate to clear this mess? Every open space is littered. Our water bodies - rivulets, streams, springs, rivers - are choked with solid waste of non-biodegradable nature such as diapers, sanitary pads, single use plastic etc. Look at the daily consumption of these items. They keep on piling in the environment. The problem with the diapers is that they hardly decompose and cannot be reduced to ashes at normal temperature.

Incinerators do this job but their use is still on a small scale. In the Khoveripora block of district Anantnag, the rural sanitation program is invisible on ground. For the time being, garbage collection vehicles were introduced along several routes to collect house hold garbage on daily basis but the initiative was shelved mid way without specifying the reasons. The mandate of rural sanitation is the domain of Rural Development Department (RDD) under the component of Swach Bharat Mission 2.0. Government of India has infused lot of money for rural sanitation to render rural areas open defecation free, litter free, de-siltation of water bodies.

The entire hamlet of Akura in Khoveripora block has garbage sites which unfortunately has not been cleared from couple of years. The banks of majestic river Lidder flowing through this hamlet have become dumping sites of garbage collected from many areas of Anantnag, which is purely violating the guidelines of Solid Waste Management rules, 2016. Majority of waste segregation sheds constructed by RDD have been constructed either on the banks of water bodies or at picturesque spots, which also goes against the guidelines of SWM Rules 2016.

The author brought the rural sanitation issue to the notice of the Secretary RDD and the Secretary has directed the officials at the district level to intervene. The RDD officials have acknowledged the problem and have assured to deal with the rural sanitation issue in the entire Khoveripora block. There must be well thought out strategy on the part of the RDD with the active cooperation of the public to render our environment clean.

Dr. Mushtaq  Rather, Educator  from Mattan, Anantnag.