Over 10.19 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste remain at Achan; Rs 361-crore integrated facility proposed
Srinagar: Srinagar produces nearly 525 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, but existing infrastructure can process only 184.5 tonnes, leaving a daily shortfall of around 340.5 tonnes, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) told the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The disclosure was made in a status report submitted before the tribunal in Original Application No. 543 of 2024, titled Raja Muzaffar Bhat versus Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, detailing the progress made in managing legacy waste at Achan landfill and plans to strengthen the city’s waste-processing infrastructure.
According to the SMC report, accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Achan landfill had accumulated approximately 11 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste. Of this, nearly 80,750 metric tonnes have so far been treated through bio-mining and remediation, while around 10.19 lakh metric tonnes remain to be processed.
The corporation said the remediation process involves excavation, mechanical screening and segregation of waste into different categories for recovery and disposal.
Combustible waste recovered during the process is being converted into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) for use by cement industries. Recyclable materials are being separated for recovery, while inert waste is stored at designated locations and suitable soil-like material is being utilised for landscaping.
The SMC informed the tribunal that its present waste-processing infrastructure comprises a 100-tonne-per-day Material Recovery Facility and an 84.5-tonne-per-day window composting facility, with a combined capacity of 184.5 tonnes daily.
To overcome the substantial gap between waste generation and processing capacity, the corporation has proposed an 800-tonne-per-day Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility at Achan at an estimated cost of Rs 361 crore.
The Detailed Project Report for the proposed project has been vetted by the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar, while administrative approval has been obtained and the tendering process initiated, the report stated.
The proposed facility is expected to address the unprocessed portion of daily municipal waste and provide additional capacity to meet future requirements.
Regarding environmental safeguards at Achan, the corporation said the Effluent Treatment Plant has been made operational and leachate management measures have been incorporated into the bio-mining process.
Other mitigation measures include the development of a green buffer, plantation drives, regular water sprinkling and steps to control foul odour around the landfill.
The SMC further reported that around 3,200 trees had been planted, while more than 10,000 litres of herbal anti-odour solution had been procured and utilised as part of the mitigation measures.
Meanwhile, a 125-tonne-per-day construction and demolition waste processing facility is also being developed at Achan. Its physical progress has reached approximately 95 per cent, with October 15, 2026, set as the target date for completion.
The status report was submitted in compliance with the NGT’s July 24, 2026, directions, asking the SMC Commissioner to furnish details of legacy waste cleared since September 2025, its treatment and utilisation, daily fresh waste generation, processing capacity and the existing gap in waste management.
