JKCSF expresses serious concern over worsening water crisis, ecological degradation, other issues in Gulmarg belt

Srinagar, Mar 02: The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) and Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners United Front (JKPUF), under chairmanship of Abdul Qayoom Wani, today expressed serious concerns over the worsening water crisis, ecological degradation, and shrinking employment opportunities in the Gulmarg-Tangmarg region. They said the unregulated resource exploitation and faulty policies threaten both the environment and the livelihoods of local communities, and demanded immediate corrective measures to prevent irreversible damage.

Water Crisis: No More Diversion from Nallah Ferozpora

The forum in a statement said this year’s severe water shortage should serve as an eye-opener. The excessive and unregulated diversion of water from Nallah Ferozpora has led to drinking water shortages for local villages, irrigation losses in Tangmarg and surrounding areas, etc. The indiscriminate extraction of this vital water source must stop immediately. No additional pipelines should be installed, and existing diversions must be reassessed and regulated to restore water availability for the native population and local farmers.

Tangmarg-Gulmarg Road: A No-Smoke Zone for Sustainable Transport

They said the road between Tangmarg and Gulmarg is an ecologically fragile corridor. The movement of smoke-emitting diesel vehicles has significantly harmed the air quality and natural environment. To protect the region and provide employment, we propose a complete ban on smoke-emitting vehicles on this route, subsidized electric vehicles for local youth, enabling them to run transport services.

They said this initiative will preserve the environment by reducing pollution, and create employment opportunities for local youth who have historically played a key role in maintaining the region’s cleanliness and order.

The forum appealed to Omar Abdullah-led government to intervene and push for a government-backed subsidy scheme that allows local youth to purchase and operate electric vehicles, keeping employment within the local community.

On snow-clearance mechanism, the forum said the use of de-icing chemicals to clear snow from roads is harming trees, soil, and water sources. While road maintenance in winters is essential, it must not come at the cost of ecological destruction. They demanded mechanical snow clearance instead of toxic chemicals. The forum continued that use of tree-friendly compounds that do not degrade soil and plant health. If such harmful practices continue, Gulmarg’s fragile ecosystem will suffer irreversible damage.

Coming to tourism and employment, the forum added that the issue needs a sustainable approach.  They said Gulmarg’s economic future depends on tourism and water resources, not agriculture. Without strict regulation, both will collapse under environmental stress. The government must regulate tourist inflow to prevent ecological overburden, promote eco-tourism and sustainable tourism policies, improve waste management systems to prevent pollution, etc. Additionally, local youth must be prioritized for employment opportunities related to tourism and environmental conservation.

JKCSF and JKPUF demanded immediate action to ban further water extraction from Nallah Ferozpora and restore lost water flow, declare Tangmarg-Gulmarg road a ‘No-Smoke Zone’ and implement a subsidy scheme for local youth to operate electric vehicles, stop the use of harmful chemicals in snow clearance to protect forests and water resources, and adopt sustainable tourism policies to ensure long-term ecological and economic stability.

The statement added that failure to act now will push Gulmarg and Tangmarg toward an irreversible ecological and economic crisis.