We Are Trashing Kashmir Faster Than We Can Save It

Kashmir is often described as heaven on earth, yet we are steadily turning it into a wasteyard. From the crowded streets of Srinagar to the untouched valleys of Gurez, garbage is creeping into every corner. We are living in a fool’s paradise, tossing plastic bottles into streams, leaving food wrappers on hiking trails, and pretending the filth will somehow manage itself. But it won't.

- Sincerely, Ilyas Fayaz Srinagar

According to the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee’s 2022 report, Kashmir generates over 500 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, with Srinagar alone producing nearly 450 metric tonnes. Much of this waste is left untreated, openly dumped on roadsides, riverbanks, or set on fire, poisoning the very air we breathe.

The Dal Lake, once a symbol of Kashmir’s beauty, now carries floating plastic and weeds, choking under our collective neglect.