While travelling to Jammu last week by car, I noticed that hazy weather conditions and smog don’t even cross the Banihal pass. When we entered the Banihal after crossing Jawahar Tunnel, I could feel the weather was clear without any haze or smog. The sun was shining bright and there was no smog or fog around? Same thing I noticed from a video sent by a friend from Warwan valley in Kishtwar which is more close to Kashmir valley than Jammu ? It is much cooler in Warwan but the sunshine in the day is crystal clear? The climate experts and air pollution scientists have a role to play to make people aware? Is this a changing weather pattern ? Have we witnessed similar weather in the past as well?
Fading Pir Panchal mountains
As for my own experience, I can clearly see our Pir Panjal mountains fading behind a persistent smog and haze, especially from November to January. This changing pattern of weather is becoming more severe each year. We cannot afford to ignore this reality now especially at a time when the Air Quality Index- AQI has crossed 400 in different areas of Kashmir like Budagm and Baramulla ? Our valley is suffering, and somewhere we all are at a fault. Air quality index is consistently plunging into the “severe” category, crossing levels of 300 or even 400 which is turning our crisp winter air into a health hazard ? This is posing a significant health risk for us and the generations to come. Yet, this crisis is too often dismissed, not taken seriously, by the commoners and unfortunately by those who are at the helm of affairs in Government ?
Burning of firewood by industrial units?
A significant and addressable source of this concerning levels of air pollution is the widespread open burning of firewood not only by brick kilns but the industrial and commercial units even some of which are said to be located within Industrial Estates? While families burn wood for essential heat, industrial burning is often a choice: a choice made for short-term economy but a huge, devastating long-term cost on our collective health. The consequences are measured in human suffering: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – COPD is impacting our senior citizens. Instances of heart attacks are increasing and other chronic illnesses that exacerbate in winter. PM 2.5 particles (tiny, toxic, and invisible) infiltrate our bodies, linked to asthma, heart disease, and shortened lives. This is not just an environmental issue; it is the most urgent of public health emergencies, multiplying predictably each year.
Role of JKPCC
The question then is not can we act, but how can we accelerate this change together? We have a powerful partner in this endeavour: the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee-JKPCC, earlier known as Pollution Control Board- PCB. State / UT PCC’s or PCBs are much empowered now to impose heavy environmental compensations as the Supreme Court in August this year overturned Delhi High court ruling which held that only courts could impose Environmental Compensation. JKPCC has a mandate and expertise to ensure the transition from burning of fossil fuel to clean fuel. We also have a government which is committed to sustainable development as per their election manifesto of 2024. By combining robust regulation with enabling support, we can turn the tide, for the better future.
Authorities must act
The authorities at helm like JK Pollution Control Committee -JKPCC must formally define and notify a category of approved cleaner fuels for commercial and industrial use— fuels that meet strict emissions criteria. Be it brick kilns , cement factories, commercial establishments, the technological intervention has to be there. Huge penalties are imposed on pollution causing industrial units under Polluter Pays Principle -PPP. Clean air is the foundation and essence of life, prosperity, and the vibrant future of Kashmir. Our Govt authorities have to ensure we get this clean air and people who cause hindrances in this should be prosecuted. In addition to the Government , I call upon business leaders, and every public spirited citizen to choose the path of action. Let us come together as a society to implement these practical solutions with urgency and shared purpose.
What can be done ?
Yet, as hopeless as the situation may appear, within this crisis lies profound hope. We have solutions already within our collective reach. While authorities can change a lot using decisive policy, such as accelerating the transition to clean fuel compliance. The clean air cannot be guaranteed from top down action alone; it must be a movement built from ground up. People have to demand this. We need bricks but do we have brick kilns with zigzag or piped gas technologies as mandated by Central Pollution Control Board- CPCB ? Are our cement factories working well ? By making announcements to plant thousands of trees won’t absolve them of the crimes they have committed in last 15 to 20 years ? Why isn’ t Govt promoting electric cars? Hon’ble LG, CM, Ministers, MLAs and all the bureaucrats who have been allotted diesel cars should auction them and purchase electric cars instead. This will be a trend setting exercise? Community & Religious leaders can organize awareness drives impressing upon hoteliers and restaurant owners to choose for cleaner fuels for their kitchens and heating. Local manufacturers and industrial unit owners who produce bio-fuel must be promoted by Govt. The apple orchardists instead of burning dry leaves can compost them in small pits around the apple farms. Municipal workers should be reprimanded not to burn municipal solid waste-MSW. Every Govt employee should be asked to plan at least two plants this spring. Large scale plantation across Kashmir needs to be ensured from Feb to April by every educational, social, religious, cultural & govt institution.
Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow and Chairman J&K RTI Movement