Ensure J&K’s environmental sustainability

It was good to see a cabinet minister, two legislators of a ruling party, and top-rung tourism stakeholders expressing concern over environmental degradation in Jammu and Kashmir. After a brainstorming session, there was a unanimous call for collective efforts to safeguard our natural resources.

All speakers during the Annual General Meeting of the Nigeen Tourist Traders Association underscored the need for sustainable tourism to protect J&K’s eco-fragile environment from further degradation.

But the speech of cabinet minister Satish Sharma, who was the chief guest, moved hearts. Hailing from Chhamb area of Jammu, Sharma shared his passion for environmental conservation. His father Madan Lal Sharma was Member Parliament for Jammu-Poonch seat.

“In 1987, my father converted 24 kilometers of denuded area into lush forest with the help of the Social Forestry project. The forest is full of wild animals now. The project got the best award in Asia for forest conservation,” Sharma said.

Taking cue from his father, Sharma said he distributed over three lakh tree saplings among people. “Out of these trees, 1.25 lakh trees are citrus, lemon, amla. Had I been a resident of London, they would have made me Mayor. There are five plant saplings in my car. We have to be really mad to save our environment,” Sharma remarked.

What the minister meant is that it is now or never situation for us to save our environment. Time is running fast and damage done so far to the environment is irreparable.

Similarly legislators Tanvir Sadiq and Salman Sagar, during the AGM voiced their concern about the dismal condition of interior areas of Dal Lake. They underscored the need for enhancing Dal conservation on scientific measures so that it can sustain tourism and improve the condition of inhabitants. They suggested inclusion of all stakeholders in Dal conservation.

It has been observed that policies for environment conservation are not in consonance with ground situation. Every department related to the environment must have consultative committees with members drawn from society. Peoples’ participation is a must for the success of environmental conservation projects. You can save Dal lake or Wular lake without the support of people! It has been proven that deweeding done by traditional methods in Dal Lake by inhabitants is more successful than by sophisticated machines.

Gilsar and Khushalsar lakes are perfect examples of how official apathy pushed these water bodies on the verge of extinction. It is because of nearly five years of sustained measures by the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) that Gilsar and Khushalsar and numerous springs got a fresh lease of life.

NLCO Chairman Manzoor Wangnoo, who was elected NATA chairman, vowed to continue his mission for environmental preservation. He maintained that “environment and tourism are related and for sustainable tourism, we have to work to save our natural resources, especially lakes, wetlands, waterways and springs.”

Is environmental conservation only the domain of NLCO and EPG? What about other individuals and organisations? It is their responsibility too to contribute their bit for protecting the environment! Why can’t banks adopt a lake or wetland for conservation or denuded forest area for plantation. Why can’t corporate houses fund environmental conservation initiatives?

We have scenic places like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg which are receiving massive tourist flow exceeding its carrying capacity. This severely hits solid waste management in these eco-fragile areas. There is a need for sustainable tourism to protect our environs. We must bear in mind that tourists only visit J&K to see its water bodies, forests, streams and glaciers. If we fail to protect our natural resources, nobody will prefer to see polluted water bodies, denuded forests! Our existence and livelihood depends on the environment.

In a politically sensitive place like J&K, environment conservation has taken a back seat. There is only hue or cry when there is drinking water shortage or natural calamities like floods and cloudbursts that we blame climate change. But we hardly realise how we are responsible for climate change! We extensively encroached upon and filled water bodies and wetlands. We denuded forests and turned these into deserts.

On the government front, haphazard projects have eaten into vitals of our karewas, agriculture fields and orchards. We are not paving new roads or highways but laying the foundation for environmental destruction. Striking balance between development and environment is missing on the ground. We are witness to how nature took its revenge in devastating 2014 floods. Overflowing water of river Jhelum retrieved its original course. Colonies which came up in Jhelum flood plains were devastated by floods.

Still no lessons were learnt and the destruction continues.
Environment conservation is really a battle. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard our environment. Being an eco-fragile area prone to natural disasters, J&K needs sustainable tourism. We have to respect the carrying capacity of our tourist destinations, water bodies and forests. We have to carry forward the legacy of our ancestors to save the environment for our existence and future generations.

Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir