Tarigami expresses concern over Chasoti cloudburst tragedy; demands accountability, climate justice
Srinagar, Aug 16: The Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Communist Party of India (Marxist), M Y Tarigami today expressed grave concern over the recent cloudburst in Chisoti, Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. The tragic incident has claimed about 60 lives, while many remain missing, leaving behind a trail of devastation.
Tarigami, who is MLA Kulgam has put forth several demands, including ensuring accountability and climate justice.
In a statement issued, Tarigami stated that "The deadly cloudburst has once again brought into sharp focus the vulnerability of Jammu and Kashmir's Himalayan region to extreme weather events like flash floods, landslides, avalanches etc. The tragic incident underscores the existential threat posed by climate change to the fragile environment of Himalyan range and its ecological balance."
"Most of the area happens to be the abode of shrines where thousands of devotees/yatris throng annually, as such, measures need to be taken to safeguard the human lives. Whether any survey and assessment of the whole area has been made by involving the department of environment and other organisations and suggestions recommended for prevention of cloud bursts and safety of people?" Tarigami asked.
Terming communal harmony as a "beacon of hope", he lauded the heroic efforts of volunteers, youth, and local communities who displayed exemplary solidarity and communal cohesion in rescue and relief operations.
Demand for time-bound probe and fixing the responsibility
He demanded an urgent, time-bound probe into the tragic incident, "why precautionary measures were not taken despite early warnings from the Meteorological Department about severe rainfall, cloudbursts and flash floods in high altitudes of Jammu region." Adding, "Why were these alerts ignored and preventive measures not taken? It amounts to criminal negligence.
He stated that "the bureaucratic inertia and lack of concern must be accounted for."
He said such disasters are not merely "natural" but are exacerbated by the reckless exploitation of resources, deforestation, unabated and unauthorised use of stone crushers and the commodification of land under the neoliberal paradigm.
The working-class and marginalized people of Jammu and Kashmir cannot continue to be sacrificial lambs at the altar of profit-driven environmental degradation, he added.
A pattern of climate catastrophe from Pahalgam to Ladakh
He highlighted the alarming frequency of cloudbursts and extreme weather events across the region, including Pahalgam, Bandipora, Shangus, and Ladakh, where infrastructure and livelihoods have been severely impacted.
"The hills mourn, the birds wait in despair, the winds howl warnings, and the rivers weep-nature is screaming for justice. Yet, the ruling elites remain deaf to these cries," he lamented.
Climate Justice for Jammu and Kashmir
Given J&K's unique topography, rapidly depleting glacial ice, and rampant deforestation, he demanded:
- Participatory Role for Common People in Climate Policy: Various departments and agencies of the government including activists working on environment protection and NGOs must co-ordinate their efforts to ensure the decisive say in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
- Climate Compensation and Justice: The Union and UT administrations must institutionalize mechanisms for climate reparations, ensuring that affected communities are rehabilitated and compensated.
- Ecological Restoration: A mass movement must be launched to combat deforestation, regulate unsustainable construction, and protect fraile ecosystems from corporate loot.
- Early warning systems like deploying of advanced Doppler radars and weather satellites for real-time detection of intense rainfall and issuing of timely warnings via mobile alerts (SMS, push notifications) local broadcasters and loudspeakers in vulnerable areas top reach all residents swiftly.
Final Call to Action
In his concluding remarks, he invoked the spirit of innovative environmentalism, urging the masses to rise against the exploitative forces that have turned nature into a commodity.
"The winds warn us, the rivers cry out-this is notjust a disaster, it is a clarion call for systemic change..."
The Environment Committee pledges to mobilize people irrespective of their affiliations including working people, students and intelligentsia in a united struggle for climate justice, demanding immediate action from the authorities, he concluded.
