Despite being famous for lush green forest areas and landscapes, Kashmir valley is gradually reeling under the budding smog—thus raising a concern to deal with it at the earliest to save the fragile environment and ultimately the health of locals.
As per the Air Quality Index, the air quality in Srinagar keeps on fluctuating from satisfactory to moderate and vice versa.
Reports suggest that due to lack of rain and influx of industries and transport adds fuel to the furry in growing the smog in Kashmir.
According to the reports of air quality management, the air quality in district Srinagar has deteriorated majorly because of the dust on roads, bad conditions of roads, burning of biomass waste and adulterated fuel.
However, the recent drizzle across the Kashmir valley has brought respite to the smog-choked region.
In 2023, the JK Policy Institute had said that the pollution in air across the Kashmir valley had reached dangerous levels especially in the winters.
The smog in Kashmir primarily is hazardous for the health of COPD patients and all those having problems in lungs. Besides health, the growing concern of smog is dangerous for the agriculture sector also.
In order to control and minimize the growing concern of smog in Kashmir, there is a dire need of wide-ranging policy and strategy from the concerned authorities. Besides, there needs to be a robust action plan to address the issue of smog.
The concerned government departments in collaboration with the civil society members need to be aware and sensitize the public about the positive steps to be taken to control the smog issue.
Above and beyond the public, local business persons and industrialists also should be educated. They shall also be encouraged to implement environment friendly techniques and machinery to reduce the toxic pollutants.
The pollution control board and other concerned authorities should set-up air quality monitoring systems in other districts too.
