“At EPR convention, DC announces awareness drives, heritage wall paintings; Army’s 109 Brigade pledges support to keep Gurez clean*
Tauseef Ahmad
Bandipora, July 15: Stressing that environmental protection must go hand in hand with tourism, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, on Wednesday warned of strict action against those violating waste management norms in the ecologically sensitive Gurez Valley, saying camping sites and other tourist establishments could face closure if garbage continues to be dumped irresponsibly.
Speaking at a one-day convention on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Chib said Bandipora generates nearly 43.7 tonnes of solid waste every day, while Gurez alone produces around 2.5 tonnes daily during the tourism season due to the sharp increase in visitors.
She said the administration has identified several garbage hotspots in the valley and directed camping site owners, hoteliers and other tourism stakeholders to ensure scientific collection, segregation and disposal of waste.
“The first responsibility to prevent pollution lies with local stakeholders.
Tourism has brought livelihood opportunities, but we cannot compromise the environment. If waste continues to accumulate, strict action, including closure of tourist establishments, will be taken,” she said.
Explaining the objective of the convention, Chib said the programme focused on the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility, under which companies manufacturing or selling products that generate plastic waste—such as packaged food items, mineral water bottles and beverage containers—must also take responsibility for collecting and managing that waste.
She said representatives from the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and several private companies participated in the workshop to strengthen cooperation on waste management.
Chib acknowledged that while tourism in Gurez has grown rapidly over the past two years, many stakeholders still lack adequate awareness about scientific waste management. “We noticed both genuine challenges and some degree of indifference. We have tried to address both. People cannot afford to be casual because if we act now, we can protect Gurez’s fragile ecosystem,” she said.
Responding to suggestions about creating awareness among tourists, the Deputy Commissioner said the administration will soon install heritage and information boards highlighting Gurez’s ecological significance and the medicinal value of its biodiversity, including locally found medicinal plants such as black cumin. She said artistic wall paintings, rather than temporary posters, will also be created across the valley to promote long-term awareness.
She added that the administration, in coordination with the Forest Department, expects the first phase of these awareness initiatives to be visible on the ground within the next week to ten days.
On enforcement, Chib said surveillance will be strengthened to prevent waste dumping by both tourism operators and local residents.
<span;>”There may be resistance initially, but surveillance will be there. There is no other way if we want to protect Gurez,” she said.
The Deputy Commissioner also highlighted the district administration’s recent initiative of establishing a plastic check post at the gateway to Gurez to curb the entry of single-use plastics and reduce littering in the valley.
The convention was attended by officials from the district administration, the Forest Department, representatives of the Indian Army’s 109 Brigade, tourism operators, traders, students and other local stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, representatives of the 109 Brigade urged residents to begin waste segregation and responsible disposal from their own homes, saying environmental conservation starts with individual responsibility. Officials said the bond between the Army and the people of Gurez has always been an example of mutual trust and cooperation, and assured that the Army would continue working closely with the administration and local communities to keep the valley clean and protect its unique environment.
Participants also discussed strengthening waste management systems and improving implementation of the EPR framework as tourist footfall in Gurez continues to increase.
