Srinagar- Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh have recorded zero instances of industrial pollution violations in the past 5-years, the Government of India informed the Parliament on Monday.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh in response to a query in the Lok Sabha, said, “As per the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), no industries in J&K and Ladakh have been found violating environmental norms between January 2020 and January 2025. “
Referring to the data shared by the CPCB about other regions, the Minister said that other states such as Uttar Pradesh reported 39 instances of industrial pollution violations while Madhya Pradesh recorded 14 and Tamil Nadu 12.
The Minister further informed the Parliament that under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP), water quality is tracked at 124 locations in Jammu & Kashmir and nine locations in Ladakh. “The network assesses key parameters such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), and pH levels to evaluate pollution levels in rivers and other water bodies,” he said, adding , “The CPCB data indicates that while industrial pollution is not a major concern, continuous monitoring remains essential to prevent potential environmental degradation.”
He said that air pollution control in J&K is also part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) pollution in urban areas. “Major cities like Srinagar and Jammu have been included in the program with the government implementing measures such as pollution control technologies, increased green cover, and stricter vehicular emission norms.”
He said that Ladakh, with its sparse population and limited industrial activity, has lower air pollution levels, but concerns remain regarding emissions from tourism-related transport and construction activities. (KNO)
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