After Ladakh’s Plastic Crackdown, CPI(M) Leader Tarigami Calls for Similar Ban in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: The decision by the Ladakh administration to enforce a strict ban on single-use plastic and littering has sparked renewed demands for stronger environmental measures in Jammu and Kashmir, with CPI(M) leader and MLA Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami urging authorities to adopt a similar approach.

Tarigami, who heads the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s Committee on Environment, welcomed Ladakh’s move and said it should encourage policymakers in Jammu and Kashmir to take decisive action against growing plastic pollution.

In a message shared on X, Tarigami described the prohibition of single-use plastic as an important environmental intervention, noting that such materials remain in ecosystems for years and cause long-term ecological damage. He stressed the need for a strict ban on polythene carry bags and other plastic products in the Union Territory, coupled with stronger enforcement mechanisms.

The appeal comes shortly after the Assembly Committee on Environment reviewed concerns over rising plastic waste and its impact across Jammu and Kashmir. During the discussion, the committee highlighted that uncontrolled plastic consumption has become a significant environmental challenge, contributing to contamination of water bodies, degradation of natural ecosystems and broader public health concerns.

At the meeting, Tarigami called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to consider issuing an executive order introducing a complete ban on plastic use.

He said such a step would be necessary to safeguard the environment, improve public health outcomes and promote sustainable development in the region.

The renewed push comes amid increasing attention on environmental protection measures in Himalayan regions, where concerns over waste management and ecological vulnerability continue to grow.