Improving solid waste management at Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine

Vaishno Devi is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti, located in the hill of Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Due to the rapidly increasing visitors/tourists to Maa Vaishnodevi temple, the generation of solid waste is increasing day by day and its proper management has become an issue of great concern to the Shrine Board.As revealed during the reconnaissance visit and evaluation of earlier reports on solid waste generated in the area, the major solid waste generated in the region is the mule excreta which amounts to approximately 40TPD (Tonnes Per Day), which is around 65% of the total 65 TPD solid waste generation in the area. The project aims at- framing a Solid Waste Management Strategy for Sri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Area in order to wholesomely tackle all the solid waste generated, primarily focussing on mule dung, in a manner to have no adverse environmental impact.