Srinagar Achan Remediation Project & Wetland Protection: Assembly Panel Demands Encroachment Crackdown
SRINAGAR, JULY 03, 2026 — In a major push toward environmental governance and sustainable waste management, the Committee on Environment of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly conducted a high-level inspection of the Achan Waste Management Site in Eidgah today. Led by Chairman M.Y. Tarigami, the legislative delegation reviewed the city’s primary waste processing facility and evaluated the progress of the ₹361-crore Achan remediation project. Alongside the facility review, the committee carried out extensive field inspections of the ecologically sensitive Anchar, Hokersar, and Khushal Sar lakes and their connected wetlands to evaluate the impact of urban pollution on public health.
Modernizing Srinagar’s Waste Infrastructure
During the comprehensive site inspection, the committee evaluated Srinagar’s current solid waste management framework, legacy waste remediation measures, leachate treatment systems, and overall environmental safeguards. Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner Faz Lul Haseeb briefed the panel on ongoing efforts to modernize urban sanitation, including improving door-to-door collection, scaling up source segregation, and upgrading processing infrastructure. In response, the assembly committee stressed the immediate need to adopt global best practices and innovative technologies to transition the Achan site into a fully sustainable, state-of-the-art facility.
Defending Vulnerable Wetlands from Urban Encroachment
Expressing deep concern over the degradation of Srinagar’s water bodies, Chairman Tarigami strongly condemned the rampant illegal landfilling, unauthorized construction, and indiscriminate dumping threatening local wetlands. Highlighting the severe ecological risks posed by unplanned urban expansion, the committee directed concerned departments to formulate a swift, time-bound action plan for the restoration and protection of these vital ecosystems. The panel ordered strict enforcement measures against encroachers and mandated the submission of periodic Action Taken Reports to ensure long-term environmental compliance.