Indian Journal of Waste Management

Waterfalls have been well liked tourist attractions in the Kashmir valley since very long. This paper discusses the waterfalls of Central Kashmir in historical perspective, their role in tourism and their impact on the landscape development. Not only a delight to the eyes, have waterfalls provided for a wide range of outdoor activities as well. Usually these are found in higher reaches and dangerous terrains so in order to make it reachable for the tourists, footpaths, narrow roads and even certain passes are constructed. New developments in the form of power generation and an increased number of visitors tend to spoil the aesthetic enjoyment of waterfalls. The study revealed that many tourists as well as common people dislike the commercial development at most of the sites and prefer avoiding such places and choose some other alternative which is not this much explored and misused. Thus a new waterfall which was not much highlighted earlier, gets discovered and made known to the masses and yet again more the display more is the chance of misuse and exploitation of the place Though the government is committed to the sustainable development but it is the responsibility of every stakeholder to protect the environment while going for developmental works. Neither should be compromised for the sake of other as development and environmental protection go hand in hand.

The horticulture sector in Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is one of the most dominant sectors and the backbone of the economy with a yearly turnover of over Rs. 1200 Crores. The Jammu and Kashmir region announced as the “Agri. Export zone for Apples and Walnuts” is the major producer of apples and walnuts as around 80 per cent of apple and 90 per cent of walnut production in India belongs to the Jammu and Kashmir region. Walnut (Akhrot in Urdu and Doon/ Doun in Kashmiri) is the edible seed of the tree of the genus Juglans and is well known for its health and environmental significance. In this paper, we study the annual growth rate of Walnut production in Kashmir Valley using secondary data from 2004-2005 to 2023-24 with the help of statistical techniques. Finally, we discuss the ecological significance of walnuts and show the forecasts of the area under walnuts and their production.

Agricultural soil contamination through heavy metal is the most common event due to the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals and associated anthropogenic activities. The soil is losing the carrying capacity to supply essential nutrient elements due to adverse interaction with the toxic elements and soil microorganisms. The environmental contamination, biomagnification of food chain and associated health risk is the major concern in recent decades seriously affecting the soil health and future generations. In this scenario, phytoremediation is a green approach to tackle the soil contamination and reversing soil degradation. Plant response to heavy metal and efficacy of remediation of contaminated soil depends on plant and soil characteristics. In this context, hyperaccumulator plants can be effectively used to extract and remove large concentrations of toxic metals from the contaminated systems. Traditional methods of phyto-remediation approaches are not economical and not suitable for the large area decontamination, however hyperaccumulators are promising that can be integrated with the efficient microbes for better results. In the recent advancement of genetic engineering approach to develop transgenic plants with characters of high biomass production, more metal accumulation, tolerance against metal toxicity and well adapted to a variety of climatic conditions might be more beneficial in this respect. Other more modern methods of phytoremediation include chemically aided phytoextraction andmicrobes assisted phytoremediation using potential endophytic microorganisms to decontaminate polluted soils on large scales.

Addressing plastic pollution is crucial for environmental and human well-being. Exploring and adopting sustainable alternatives to traditional plastic can significantly contribute to mitigating these harmful effects. Research and innovation in eco-friendly materials are essential for a more sustainable future. Bioplastic indeed showcase innovation by utilizing various biodegradable sources like banana peels, orange peel, corn starch,organic waste. They provide a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics and contribute to reducing environmental impact. The diverse range of materials, including biomass and renewable sources like cellulose and vegetable oil, highlights the versatility of bioplastics in addressing environmental concerns. Bioplastics can be of various types, which is based on the source that it has been derived from, such as Cellulose-based, Starch based, Protein based and Aliphatic polyesters bioplastics. Various scientists describe the production of a bioplastic film from banana paste. This approach aligns with the utilization of natural resources for sustainable material development. Bioplastic from banana peels can be used in industry for various applications such as molding, packaging and making carry bags. There’s a big demand for bioplastic packaging and it is the largest segment of the European bioplastic market – estimated (44% of 2.05 million tones in 2017). At the same time rescuing the environment from potential harm by synthetic plastics. That’s a significant growth projection for India’s bioplastics market, indicating a shift towards more sustainable alternatives. Globally market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 24.36% to reach US$1,420.870 million by 2027, up from US$308.942 million in 2020.Environmental awareness and regulations contribute to this expansion.So, this review includes production of bioplastic from banana peels and improving environmental health.

The article focuses on the Gobardhan scheme as it addresses the issue of waste reduction & management. In the beginning, it gives a snap shot of the scheme. This is followed by the dimensions of the scheme in terms of environment & economy. The article peeps into the status of bio gas installation till 2024 & the current status of registered plants as in the year 2024. The article aspires that the scheme expands & reaches to the masses while contributing to waste management. Simultaneously, it aspires economic growth to the beneficiaries & thereby ensuring the successful implementation of the scheme by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.