Kashmir Concern meets Tarigami, flags ecological threats

Srinagar, Aug 6: A delegation from Kashmir Concern met Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Environment, MY Tarigami, to present a series of urgent proposals aimed at addressing Jammu and Kashmir’s worsening environmental crisis.

The meeting, held at Tarigami’s Gupkar residence, was led by noted environmentalist and Kashmir Concern Chairman Dr Touseef Bhatt, joined by Vice President Majid Khan, Secretary Azhar Hussain Tantray, Media Head Fahad Amin Khan, and senior member Syed Ajaz Kashani.

As per the statement, Bhatt, known for initiating the plantation of over 65,000 trees under a five-lakh tree campaign, highlighted the shrinking wetlands, polluted water bodies, and rampant deforestation across the region. He stressed that these issues threaten biodiversity, water security, and the broader ecological balance of J&K.

Tarigami acknowledged the concerns, praising the group’s sustained activism. “The collective effort is key to preserving our pristine environment. People must become stakeholders in this mission,” he said, assuring that the group’s inputs would inform future legislative frameworks.

Bhatt described the engagement as “a call to conscience, not just a policy discussion,” underscoring the moral urgency of saving Kashmir’s environment.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration, paving the way for joint civil-society and government efforts to protect Kashmir’s fragile ecological heritage.