Srinagar, Sept. 16 -- Plastic waste is now a defining feature of Jammu and Kashmir's landscape. Bottles, wrappers and bags are scattered along riverbanks, roadsides and open spaces, carried by rain into streams and lakes. Tourist destinations that should reflect natural heritage are instead burdened with discarded packaging, while villages and towns struggle with irregular collection and poor segregation. The accumulation of waste moves from sheds and streets into water bodies, contaminating ecosystems and threatening livelihoods.

The persistence of banned material in circulation despite restrictions-imposed years ago shows the gap between law and enforcement. Seizures at entry points and wholesale markets underline the scale of illegal ...