No further damage

Every year on June 5, the Environment Day is being observed world over. The day is a reminder to our responsibilities towards the environment. Environment has a direct relation with human life and is facing various challenges in different parts of the world.

In Kashmir also the challenges are evident. If the challenges are dealt with responsibly and sincerely we can save our environment from all ill-effects. Kashmir has been gifted with innumerable and invaluable environmental assets. But these assets, including water bodies and forests, have suffered badly due to encroachments and pollution.

The damage is extensive. Subsequently, the water bodies including the lakes have drastically shrunk. Structures have been raised on the encroached land. Pollution is killing the environment and pollution levels are on the rise. Practical measures have to be taken for protecting the environment from all ill-effects.

Otherwise the environment will get damaged further day by day. Every year there is a new theme on World Environment Day. This year's theme is "Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience." Kashmir needs meaningful steps to preserve the environment. Awareness among the people regarding the importance of environment must not remain confined to World Environment Day only.

This should be a continuous process. Related programmes must be conducted from time to time at village, town and city levels. Even students have to be encouraged to take part in such events. Several steps are being taken at the government level in this regard. These are encouraging signs. However, people too will have to play their role.

Development is important, but it also has to be seen that the environment doest not get affected in any way through development measures. For that the advice of concerned environmental experts must be sought, wherever needed. In a nutshell, efforts must be made at all levels for safeguarding the environment.