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Jammu Kashmir launches a new green economy roadmap focused on waste and employment generation. (Img: Google)
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has taken a significant step towards building a sustainable future by approving its ambitious Circular Economy Policy after months of detailed discussions, departmental consultations and expert evaluations. The policy introduces a new approach where waste is no longer viewed as a challenge but as a valuable resource capable of generating employment, encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting economic growth.
The announcement comes at a time when Jammu Kashmir is witnessing a rapid increase in waste generation due to expanding urban areas, rising tourism activities, pilgrimage movement, horticulture production, construction growth and growing municipal services.
The government has identified the urgent need to move away from conventional waste dumping practices and adopt a modern waste management system based on segregation, recycling, recovery and landfill reduction. The new policy aims to create an efficient ecosystem where waste management becomes a source of economic opportunity while reducing pressure on the environment.
Under the new policy framework, Jammu Kashmir is expected to create or formalise nearly 15,000 green careers within five years. The initiative will also support around 1,000 to 1,500 circular micro-enterprises and encourage 40 to 60 startups and MSMEs working in sectors such as waste recycling, repair and reuse services, biomass utilisation, sustainable manufacturing and resource recovery.
The move is expected to open new employment avenues for youth while encouraging local entrepreneurs to invest in green businesses and environmentally sustainable solutions.
The core objective of the policy is to establish a circular economy model where discarded materials are converted into secondary raw materials, energy resources and commercial opportunities. Instead of treating waste as an unwanted by-product, the government plans to create a system where recyclable materials can return to the economic cycle and support industries.
The approach will help reduce dependence on fresh natural resources while creating new business opportunities in recycling, processing and sustainable production.
Jammu Kashmir’s unique geographical conditions have played a key role in shaping the policy framework. The fragile Himalayan ecosystem, difficult terrain, seasonal tourism pressure and different capacities of Urban Local Bodies require a specialised waste management strategy.
The new policy has been designed to address these region-specific challenges while ensuring environmental protection and sustainable urban development.
The Circular Economy Policy has been developed with technical assistance from the Centre for Innovation and Transformation in Governance (CITaG), IIM Jammu. Experts have prepared a roadmap aimed at aligning Jammu Kashmir with India’s national circular economy vision and long-term climate sustainability objectives.
The policy focuses on introducing modern waste processing technologies, improving resource efficiency and promoting innovation-driven environmental solutions.
To ensure effective implementation, the government will establish a dedicated institutional structure under the policy. This includes the Jammu Kashmir Circular Economy Mission, an Inter-Departmental Steering Committee, Circular Economy Cell, District Circular Economy Cells and Urban Local Body-level implementation committees.
The implementation process will begin with baseline assessments, Urban Local Body classification, pilot projects, infrastructure planning and digital monitoring mechanisms. A dashboard-based reporting system along with performance indicators will help track progress, evaluate outcomes and improve transparency.
The initiative is also expected to deliver major environmental benefits by reducing pollution caused by unscientific waste disposal. Scientific processing of waste will help control air pollution, water contamination and soil degradation while protecting the sensitive Himalayan ecosystem.
The government believes that better waste segregation, recycling infrastructure and resource recovery systems will create a cleaner and healthier environment for communities.
The government has clarified that the policy will function as an enabling framework and will not create automatic financial obligations. The estimated 10-year planning requirement under the baseline scenario has been calculated at around Rs 3,548.70 crore.
The financial structure of the programme will depend on multiple funding channels, including central government schemes, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, user charges, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support and limited Union Territory funding.
However, every project under the policy will require separate approvals according to established financial procedures and government guidelines.
Before receiving final approval, the draft policy was reviewed by several government departments, including Finance, Law, Tourism, Information Technology, Jal Shakti, Forest, Agriculture and Public Works departments. The recommendations and suggestions received from these departments were incorporated into the final policy framework.
The Housing and Urban Development Department has now been authorised to notify the policy and prepare detailed operational guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures, model bylaws, digital reporting formats, user-charge frameworks and circular procurement guidelines.
The move is expected to create new opportunities for youth, entrepreneurs, startups and local businesses in Jammu Kashmir. By connecting environmental protection with employment generation, the policy could establish a new economic ecosystem where sustainability becomes a major driver of growth.
The next challenge will be effective ground-level implementation. The success of the initiative will depend on infrastructure development, private sector participation, technology adoption and ensuring that circular economy benefits reach cities, towns and communities across the Union Territory.
