The need for a separate administrative department for combating air pollution in Kashmir
Air pollution is emerging as a significant environmental and public health challenge in the valley of Kashmir, and the smog is getting worse with each passing day. It is dirtying the air we breathe, dulling the view of the hills, and leaving many of us with scratchy throats, stinging eyes, and a constant worry about what all those pollutants are doing to our health in the long run.
Kashmir nestles in the Himalayas, and the valley is enclosed by mountain ranges causing temperature inversion, which is a process where cold air gets trapped under warm air. This in turn leads to low humidity and cold temperatures, drastically reducing pollutant dispersion, especially in winter.
We are also experiencing increasing levels of particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide due to rapid urbanization, rising vehicle population, land-use patterns, winter heating practices, and unregulated construction activities, apart from emissions from industries, as is the case with brick kilns in Budgam, Pulwama, and other parts of the valley where the AQI is reported to be in the severe category. Road dust and cement dust are also contributing to this menace.
Emissions
As reported in the Economic Survey 2024-2025 of the J&K Government, public and private transport have increased manifold over the years. As against 14.88 lakh vehicles (both public and private) registered in 2017, the number of vehicles has increased to 27.29 lakh by the end of December 2024. This is an enormous increase, and the emission load is understandable. Fuel use is enormous, leading to an increase in PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅. These days, we see many cars with registration numbers of other states on the roads. This leads to huge emissions without control, as condemned vehicles are finding their way into the Kashmir market due to cheap prices.
This Economic Survey report has no mention of vehicle specifications, make, fuel type, or any data on condemned vehicles. The data lacks important parameters, and it appears that the administrative machinery of the UT of J&K has no information about air emissions so important to economic health.
The government has to step in to cut down high reliance on diesel transport (buses, minibuses, load carriers). The traffic congestion in the city of Srinagar is overwhelming and scary. Traffic jams not only lead to economic and physical loss but also contribute to PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, and NO₂ levels.
Household heating and biomass burning is an area where government intervention is required. During winter, people use bukharis, traditional wood- or coal-burning heaters, and hamams. Burning firewood, charcoal, and crop residues releases smoke and toxic particles.
Indoor air pollution caused by such heaters dramatically increases during winter months and severely affects women and children. There is no account of such pollution and the economic cost to families and the state at large.
Construction activity and road dust is another area of concern, with large-scale real estate expansion in Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, and Pulwama taking a heavy toll on air quality. Cement mixing, dusty roads, and material transport without covers generate airborne dust, adding to the already toxic situation.
Industrial and brick kiln emissions are creating havoc, and brick kilns in districts such as Budgam, Pulwama, and Anantnag primarily use coal or biomass. Most of these kilns still use older Fixed Chimney Kiln (FCK) technology despite regulations and have not switched to zigzag technology.
Agricultural and horticultural waste burning adds to particulate matter, and burning twigs and fallen autumn leaves has added a serious dimension to the smoggy situation in Kashmir. Agricultural waste can be gainfully composted and used, but lack of understanding remains prevalent in all sectors regarding innovations in climate change technologies.
Impact & Repercussions
Health repercussions are manifold in this serious air pollution situation, with increasing respiratory illnesses (asthma, bronchitis, COPD), higher hospitalization rates for the elderly and children during winter months, and long-term exposure linked to cardiovascular diseases and cancers.
The environmental impact is also severe, including soot deposition on glaciers leading to accelerated melting, which in turn contributes to flooding. This damages vegetation and orchards, resulting in lower yield and economic stress.
Socio-economic repercussions are numerous. Air pollution creates pressure on resources, increases healthcare costs, reduces tourism appeal during heavy smog periods, and causes loss of productivity due to illness.
Current Air Quality in Kashmir
As per data appearing in many media reports and my panel discussion on Voice Urdu, the AQI was shown in the severe category, and it is worrisome. I am of the considered opinion that the true exposure level is not available through the data; therefore, effective management is impossible. The data is not in the public domain, and there are differing views about air pollution monitoring stations and data in Kashmir. There is only one CAAQMS at Rajbagh, whose location is again debatable.
Rectification Measures
As a long-term measure, the government needs to move to electric transport and introduce EV subsidies, which will improve public transport networks and may reduce private vehicle dependency.
Regulating brick kilns is mandatory, and the transition to zigzag technology must be ensured. There is a serious need for continuous emission monitoring and enforcement of pollution norms.
Upgrading heating systems by promoting low-emission alternatives like electric heaters, heat pumps, and efficient biomass stoves is essential. The government must consider granting subsidies for clean energy for winter heating.
The availability of green hydropower energy produced in the UT should be increased to reduce dependency on biomass and fuel. To reduce transmission and distribution loss, maximum measures are required. Regular energy audits and strict metering can lead to energy conservation and optimum use.
A consistent and well-maintained air quality monitoring system is the basic requirement of any successful air emission control. A data portal needs to be established by installing real-time AQI stations across districts and integrating data into public apps for awareness. The outsourcing of air quality monitoring stations, as conveyed in a recent DD Kashmir program (Jehanbeen) on air pollution by a PCB official, should be discontinued.
Control and mitigation of dust from construction activities is required, and compulsory covering of construction materials should be enforced. The use of water sprinkling and dust barriers, such as creating tree lines, should be encouraged.
A comprehensive waste management system is a great challenge, and despite NGT directions about managing legacy waste at Achen, the work is slow-paced. Open burning must be banned and enforced. Decentralized waste composting centers should be established.
Community-level planning should also be part of the solution, and awareness programs on the dangers of burning waste should be a regular feature. Organized plantation drives to increase green cover should be encouraged.
The role of industry is also important, and we cannot leave economic drivers out of the community plan. As envisaged in the Companies Act 2013 and under the corporate governance umbrella, industry can employ ESG in letter and spirit. In this case, the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) committee and the RM (Risk Management) committee can be integrated for a sustainable growth graph.
Citizens and the community also have to contribute by using energy-efficient heating equipment, avoiding unnecessary car use, insulating homes to reduce heating demand, and planting trees in home gardens to help check growing air toxicity.
Lastly, I stress the need for a separate administrative department for environmental management and climate change, as exists at the central government level. The institutional arrangement needs to be streamlined for a result-oriented approach to the pollution menace. Ours is a tourist economy, and therefore, a clean and sustainable environment is required for continued tourist inflow into the valley.