Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Oct 23: As autumn draws to a close in Kashmir, a familiar haze begins to settle over the valley, not from mist or fog, but from the widespread burning of fallen leaves and tree branches.
The practice, deeply rooted in local tradition, is meant to produce charcoal for Kangris (traditional firepots) to keep homes warm during the freezing winter months. But environmentalists and health experts warn that this seasonal ritual is causing severe damage to both public health and the environment.
Every year, as the pruning season begins in apple-growing districts like Pulwama, Shopian, Baramulla, Kulgam, and Anantnag, smoke rises from orchards and roadsides alike. The burning of heaps of leaves and twigs fills the air with thick smog, reducing visibility and worsening air quality.
“The smoke from burning leaves contains fine particles and harmful gases that can easily reach deep into the lungs,” said Dr Umar Mushtaq a scientist at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST).
Dr Umar said, “This can trigger respiratory problems, especially among children, the elderly, and those already suffering from asthma or heart diseases.”
Besides irritating the eyes and throat, leaf smoke contains carbon monoxide and Benzo(a)pyrene, a compound linked to lung cancer, he said, adding that carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, making it particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups.
Dr Umar said the practice is not only harmful but also illegal. “Burning leaves in the open is against environmental regulations and Supreme Court guidelines,” he said. “People should instead compost the leaves or use urea sprays to accelerate decomposition and produce organic fertilizer.”
Despite these warnings, many residents say they are forced to continue burning leaves due to a lack of viable alternatives.
“We have no other option,” said Waqar Ahmed, an orchardist from Pulwama. “We need charcoal for our Kangris, and with frequent power cuts in winter, this is the only way to stay warm.”
Echoing similar concerns, Muhammad Abdullah, a resident of Pulwama, said that electricity remains unreliable during the harsh winter months. “Each year we face long power outages. Without Kangris, survival becomes difficult.”
Environmentalists say the combined smoke from thousands of small fires across the valley leads to a toxic blanket of pollution during the transition from autumn to winter.
“Open burning releases particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and greenhouse gases, all of which contribute to poor air quality and climate change,” said Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, an environmentalist. “Because of Kashmir’s topography, these pollutants often get trapped in the atmosphere due to temperature inversion, forming smog that lingers for days.”
Such fires, Dr Ahmad said, also harm soil health, destroying beneficial microorganisms and reducing fertility.
Experts and agricultural scientists have proposed several eco-friendly solutions. They suggested promoting sheep grazing in orchards, saying, “Sheep eat the fallen leaves and their droppings enrich the soil naturally. This reduces waste and adds nutrients back to the earth.”
They urged farmers to adopt composting, turning leaf litter into valuable organic manure instead of letting it go up in smoke.
Doctors across the valley have reported a spike in respiratory ailments during this period. Health officials said that children and elderly citizens are the most affected. “Every autumn and early winter, we see an increase in cases of breathing difficulties, coughing, and chest infections — much of which can be linked to the smoke from leaf burning,” they said.
Shabid Ahmed, a biology scholar at the University of Kashmir, believes awareness is the key. “Most people simply don’t know how harmful this practice is. The government must launch campaigns to educate farmers and provide support for eco-friendly disposal methods,” he said.
Experts agree that without stricter enforcement and public awareness, Kashmir’s picturesque autumn will continue to end in smoke — literally — posing a silent but deadly threat to the valley’s environment and people.
