‘Sustainable waste management system a necessity in Ladakh UT’
LEH: Despite the administration and the concerned authorities including Swachh Bharat Mission have been taking multiple initiatives for solid waste management in here, the issue is a significant challenge in the union territory.
Although, the cold desert is a remote and sparsely populated region. The region’s unique geographic and climatic conditions, along with its fragile ecosystem, make waste management a complex issue.
As the initiatives, so are the hurdles and problems in solid waste management in Ladakh.
The UT has limited resources for waste management. The region is located in a high-altitude desert, and its extreme weather conditions make it difficult to transport waste to disposal sites.
One of the residents said that the people of Ladakh have limited knowledge about the importance of waste management. “People tend to dispose of waste in open areas, which creates environmental and health hazards,” he said.
Apart from this, Ladakh’s infrastructure for waste management is inadequate. The region lacks proper waste collection, transportation, and disposal facilities, he added.
Adding more to the hurdles, another social activist said that Ladakh’s tourism industry is seasonal, and the influx of tourists during the peak season puts additional pressure on the region’s waste management infrastructure.
Measures and Solutions:
Despite having taken earlier measures from time to time to solve the solid waste management problem here, the government and NGOs should launch awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of waste management. These campaigns should focus on the environmental and health hazards of improper waste disposal, he said.
Ladakh produced 3923 MT waste in 2022; only 1917 MT processed
Waste segregation is an essential step in effective waste management, and the government and NGOs should encourage people to separate their waste into different categories such as biodegradable, non-biodegradable, hazardous, wet and dry waste.
Further government should invest in developing the infrastructure for waste management, including waste collection, transportation, and disposal facilities, with the collective efforts from local masses.
Recycling can significantly reduce the amount of waste that needs to be transported and disposed of.
Recycling needs to be promoted by setting up recycling centers and providing incentives for recycling.
Another way to solve the aforesaid issues is promoting composting by providing training and support to the local communities, another local said and added that with the right measures and solutions, it can be addressed.
“The government, NGOs, and local communities should work together to create a sustainable waste management system that protects the environment and the health of the people of Ladakh, which even is the need of the hour,” he concluded.
