Srinagar, Oct. 18 -- Fallen leaves provide a breathtaking backdrop to the autumn hues in the Kashmir valley but prove to be a nightmare for the civic authorities in Srinagar, the summer capital.

As autumn arrives, large quantities of leaves from gigantic chinar, poplar and willow trees blanket the landscape across the Valley. During rains or snowfall, these leaves often choke drains and increase air pollution when locals burn them for fuel.

This year, the Srinagar municipal corporation (SMC) has decided to adopt scientific methods to manage fallen leaves and is set to intensify its autumn sanitation to prevent indiscriminate dumping and open burning.

The corporation aims to segregate the leaves from other non-biodegradable waste to pro...