SRINAGAR: A group of environmentally conscious volunteers and representatives of Pahalgam Hotel Owners Association, led by its President Sh. Asif Iqbal Burza, met Governor N.N. Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here today.
Sh. Mohammad Tasleem, Environmentalist gave a presentation on the ways and means to manage solid waste generated in Pahalgam and along the Yatra route. The group expressed its desire to work in concert with the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) during the annual Yatra period for managing disposal of solid waste.
Governor appreciated the efforts of the group in carrying out a study on the problems of waste management and observed that SASB was already committed to introducing new and innovative technologies for the scientific disposal of urban wastes. He emphasised the urgent need to formulate a holistic plan which would address the serious issues relating to sanitation and processing of wastes, generated by all sources throughout the year in the important towns/cities in the entire Valley which experience heavy footfall of tourists round the year. He urged the group to increase awareness among people at large about the various environment friendly technologies such as segregation, voluntarily shunning the use of plastic and polythene etc. as this would help in contributing towards the preservation of environment.
Governor informed that recently he had reviewed the functioning of the Sewage Treatment Plants at Nunwan and Baltal Base Camps and Shri Narula, CEO, SASB, was taking further action for their upgradation and improvement, utilising the latest technologies.
Shri Dildar Khan, Secretary General, Pahalgam Hotel Association; Shri Raja Muzzafar, Social Activist; Sh. Nasir Khan, Environment Activist and Radio Jockey; Shri Tufail Ahmad Lawyer and Environment Activist; Ms. Yasmin Ali, Stakeholder and Ms. Ramneek Kaur, Hotelier were present in the meeting.
