Srinagar, June 20 -- When Ladakh's administration banned single-use plastics this month and empowered officials to impose spot fines on littering, it sent a clear message: environmental protection begins with political will.

Random inspections at Leh Airport and entry points, coupled with strict enforcement, signalled a government prepared to act before waste overwhelms one of India's most ecologically sensitive regions.

Jammu and Kashmir should pay close attention.

Plastic waste, overflowing garbage dumps, clogged waterways and roadside litter have become common sights in towns and villages throughout the Union Territory.

Public concern rises after every dumping controversy, landfill dispute and photograph of trash scattered along st...