Budgam, Jul 17 (KNO): Around 150 quintals of plastic waste and other garbage were removed from the Haijan Brenwar Valley in central Kashmir's Budgam district during a large-scale cleanliness drive organised on Friday, officials said.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the campaign was conducted by the Pir Panjal Forest Division, Budgam, in collaboration with Jammu & Kashmir ECO Watch, the Tehsil Legal Services Committee (TLSC) Chadoora, the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Forum, besides several local organisations.
Forest officials, volunteers, members of civil society organisations and residents from nearby villages participated in the drive, collecting heaps of non-biodegradable waste from different parts of the valley to restore its natural environment.
Range Officer Rameez Raja told KNO that the Forest Department will enforce strict measures against the use of plastic in the valley, including the establishment of anti-polythene checkpoints. He urged tourists and locals to cooperate in making Haijan Brenwar a "Zero Waste" destination.
"Haijan Brenwar belongs to all of us, and it is our collective responsibility to keep it clean and protect its natural beauty," said Raja said. "We specifically appeal to horse riders and temporary shopkeepers operating in the area to ensure proper waste disposal and discourage visitors from littering. They should also counsel tourists about maintaining cleanliness so that this pristine destination remains pollution-free for future generations."
Block Forester Jehangir Ahmad said protecting forests from pollution requires collective efforts and appealed to all stakeholders to support conservation initiatives.
District Nodal Officer of J&K ECO Watch, Syed Farhat, welcomed the Forest Department's zero-waste initiative and appreciated DFO Budgam Syed Waseem and his team for introducing measures aimed at protecting the valley's fragile ecosystem—(KNO)