Jammu and Kashmir, India: A company that provides energy solutions in India has partnered with the government to turn 70,000 tons of waste, including weeds and lilies from Dal Lake, into natural fertilizer and other related products.
Clean Effentech International Pvt Ltd (CEF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.(NAFED) have come together to work on this project, which will start in August this year.
According to CEF, they will be able to produce over 20,000 tons of natural fertilizer from the waste found in Dal Lake through this project.
“The process will begin at CEF Group’s waste processing plant, which is being set up in Srinagar. There, the waste from Dal Lake will be treated and processed,” explained Maninder Singh Nayyar, the Founder and CEO of CEF.
Nayyar further mentioned that they have the technology, knowledge, and experience to convert this waste into 24,000 tons of natural fertilizer every year.
“We want to solve the main problem right from its source. Every year, a lot of garbage is produced from Dal Lake, which makes the environment dirty,” he said.
Nayyar explained that this project aims to provide natural fertilizer to the farmers in the valley at affordable prices.
“It will help farmers switch to organic farming and also help in managing the waste generated by people working at Dal Lake. Additionally, the fertilizer made from the waste will be available to local farmers, which will increase their crop yield and promote organic farming in the area. Moreover, the waste processing plant will create job opportunities for local residents. This project will improve organic farming in the region and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers,” he said.
Dal Lake is facing significant issues due to the presence of waste like weeds and lilies. This waste accumulates to a staggering 70,000 tonnes annually, impeding boat movement and negatively impacting the livelihoods of those dependent on Dal Lake tourism.
Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Vice Chairman of the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), is optimistic that the project will provide a sustainable solution to tackle the lake’s pollution problem.
“Lake waste has been a problem for a long time, and we are happy that CEF Group and NAFED are working together to find sustainable solutions. Not only will they process the waste, but they will also create organic manure in the state itself. This will benefit local farmers and communities financially,” he said.
Environmental experts have expressed concern over the persistent growth of lily pads and other weeds in Dal Lake, despite the annual cleanliness drives conducted by the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA). They have been advocating for a lasting solution to address this issue.
