Cloudburst Fallout: GCC urges policy review on infrastructure development in high altitude areas

Srinagar, Aug 29: The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) J&K has called for a review of the governmental policies on road and other infrastructure development in high altitude areas, including pilgrimage sites.

Citing " blasting operations in mountainous terrains and massive felling of trees as the main cause of recurrent land erosion,land -subsidence and landslides" , the Group has asked for close scrutiny of the very basic parameters and process of "Environment Impact Assessment" ( EIA) as a pre-requisite to environment clearance " of big projects and appealed the LG and the Chief Minister to have all ongoing and proposed new projects re- assessed for environmental clearance, said a statement.

The GCC strongly feels the need of a people's movement for massive and sustainable plantations across Jammu & Kashmir, particularly in the catchment of Jhelum, Chenab, Tawi and their tributaries."The Forest and other concerned Departments/field Agencies MUST be geared up for new and emerging challenges to rule out Uttrakhand and Himachal Pradesh type incidents in the UT.”

In a resolution adopted here today the Group cautioned the Government against "over- tourism" and an increasing proclivity of promoting pilgrim tourism without due regard to the carrying capacity of routes and destinations or consideration of given wherewithal of disaster management at such high altitudes and difficult terrain. Simultaneously, it has suggested upgrading of disaster management equipment and training , besides streamlining of the working of the departments/institutions tasked to take disaster mitigation and adaptation measures, said the press release. The GCC has extended condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in Cloudbursts and Flash Floods and requested the Government for earnest relief and rehabilitation of the affected .