Increasing Pollution Makes Air In Kashmir Toxic, People Reports Respiratory Diseases

Kashmir has always been known for its mountains, lakes, forests, food and more importantly for its hospitality. But now it looks like the valley is into the limelight for being a casualty of air pollution.

Air pollution in Kashmir has increased rapidly over the last few decades due to brick kilns, burning of fuel and wood, industrialisation and above all which experts say that they violate environmental rules and regulations. With the air getting polluted in the Himalayan region on each passing day, people fear that the valley is becoming another Delhi.

Illegal Brick kilns

Brick kilns are a major factor of air pollution in the valley. And it needs an eco-friendly solution.

Illegal Brick Klin Kamran Yousuf

As per various reports, most of the manufacturers do not have license or they have not renewed their license. It is a naked truth that brick kilns fields are not following any environmental law. There are over 500 brick kilns mostly in central Kashmir¡¯s Budgam district.

As the brick kilns units are using the old traditional bull trench technology, State Pollution Control Board (PCB) had asked the brick kilns owners operating in Srinagar and Jammu cities to switch over from the traditional bull trench technology to eco-friendly zigzag technology within a year as Government of India has fixed timeline to bring down carbon emissions from Brick kilns, from the existing 750mg/Nm3 level to 250 mg/Nm3, keeping in view that this is the second major contributor of green house gases emissions after thermal gas plants in the country.

In November, the District Magistrate Budgam directed all the Sub-Divisional Magistrates to act against the illegal establishment, construction and operation of brick kilns in their respective jurisdictions.

An order according to a local news wire reads that the Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kiln (Regulation) Act. 2010 and the Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kiln (Regulation) (Amendment), Act, 2016, envisage a proper procedure for establishing and operating the brick kilns.

The complaints are being received every now and then regarding the illegal establishment and operation of brick kilns in the jurisdiction of district Budgam. It added that these illegal brick kilns are a threat to the environment, health and flora and fauna of the area.

Industries, a headache

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Despite being famous for producing saffron, almonds and walnuts, many scenic spots of Jammu and Kashmir are losing their charm due to pollution emanating from industrial activities.

Supposedly, in Khrew township of south Kashmir¡¯s Pulwama district, six cement factories are operating in the area. Locals said that these cement factories have made the lives of local residents hell and have also largely impacted flora and fauna.

The J&K High Court has several times issued notices to the government on Public Interest Litigations seeking to prevent environmental pollution caused by cement plants in Khrew.

The court had also asked the government to cancel the registration and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) of those cement plants which are violating the safety measures required for controlling air pollution.

Burning of wood

Burning of bio-fuels like firewood and fossil fuels like coal besides emissions from vehicles are the major pollutants in Kashmir during winter months, a study has found.

¡°Winter Burst of Pristine Kashmir Valley Air,¡± the study by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, and University of Kashmir, has found that burning of coal contributed about 156 tonnes of Particulate Matter 2.5 of the total emission of 163.62 tonnes of PM 2.5.

The study has found that on certain days, air quality in Srinagar during winters was worse than Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world.

Ten thousand deaths

Director Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Dr Parvaiz Koul said around ten thousand deaths in J&K are attributed to air pollution every year.

Ten Thousand Deaths Zia Shakeel

He said that yearly around ten thousand deaths are attributed to particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) exposure and there is a need to control it by countering it.

¡°In our recent programme, we created awareness among public that Air Pollution issue is not only in Delhi and Maharashtra but also in J&K due to increasing number of vehicles, construction, brick kilns, cement factories which emit pollutants and significantly pollute our air and affecting our health which makes air pollution a health issue,¡± he said.

¡°Our aim is to make doctors aware and this message will reach the masses as people treat advice from doctors as words of God and people will get information on how to decrease air pollution and how they can contribute to it,¡± Koul said.

¡°Air quality index in Kashmir is gradually going into a poor category, especially during winters and in the past few days AQI has gone from moderate to severe and there is a need to intervene now,¡± he added.

Causing Respiratory Diseases

Dr Nisar Ul Hassan, Influenza expert and President Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) said that there are many people who don¡¯t smoke but they too end up in hospitals with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

¡°All because of the environmental pollution as there is huge pollution in Kashmir due to the combustion and industrialization besides that due to burning of wood, kerosene in homes, biomass fuels, charcoal in Kangris, the air quality in Kashmir has been reported to be worse than that of the metropolitan cities,¡± he said.

The doctor said that there will be a significant improvement in respiratory disease cases if there is reduction in poor air quality of Kashmir.