The Green Manifesto !

As Assembly Elections dates in J&K have been announced by the Election Commission of India, political parties in J&K are coming up with their election manifestos. The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC), the largest and oldest political party in J&K came up with its election manifesto some days back.

The party has promised to strive for restoration of autonomy, Article 370 and statehood of Jammu & Kashmir. In addition to that 200 units of free electricity, creation of jobs, safeguarding land rights and also release of political prisoners is a part of their election manifesto. The party has promised support to artisans, waiving off KCC loans, working for regularisation of casual and daily wage employees and addressing the issues of unemployed dental surgeons. These are some important issues and I appreciate these have been included in the election manifesto.

With regard to mining contracts, the party has assured that they will be given to locals, but there is no mention of sustainable mining practices? As I have filed around 3 cases on illegal riverbed mining in National Green Tribunal, and have been involved in lot of activism around this issue for last 5 years, I have come to this conclusion that mining work in rivers is mostly done by the local contractors who are plundering our riverbeds.

The clay mining in Karewas hasn’t been mentioned as these geographical formations are being plundered in Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla districts and there is no policy at all to streamline this work. Kashmir valley, Jammu region as well, is getting choked with solid waste, and all the waste management rules are being violated by urban and rural local bodies. The funds provided under swachh bharat mission urban / rural need to be audited, as on the ground waste is not treated but simply relocated or dumped unscientifically.

National Conference has promised to hold ULB and Panchayat elections, plus assuring to strengthen these institutions. With regard to social security the party has promised to enhance the old age pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 3000 per month and payment of Rs 5000 as monthly grant to economically weaker families headed by women.

Free travel for women in public transport, enhancement of marriage assistance from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 is also part of the NC’s election manifesto, indeed appreciable. It would have been great if there was a mention of  the persons with disabilities (PWDs) & setting up of special skill development centers for them & enhancement of their monthly stipend from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per month, especially for 100 % visually challenged persons and people with other severe disabilities.

Green Manifesto?

I was expecting a Green Manifesto from the National Conference with more focus on sustainable development of Jammu & Kashmir especially controlling water pollution, air pollution, streamlining cement or brick kiln industries, restoration of wetlands, streamlining clay and riverbed mining, ensuring proper drainage system in Srinagar and other towns etc.

As we are facing unregulated tourism due to heavy rush the manifesto should have mentioned how these things could be regulated; especially coming up with an eco tourism policy. While developing the hotel industry the election manifesto should have mentioned that no big hotels would be allowed to come up now in Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonmarg or other places as these places are almost choked and instead environment friendly lodges and huts would be preferred.

Had the draft manifesto been made public, people like me and many others would have given more suggestions. It is never too late and I would request the party leaders if they come to power they must take these suggestions into consideration vis a vis environment and climate change.

Conclusion

The election manifesto that was released recently by the National Conference is overall a good document if implemented on ground, in case the party forms the next Govt in J&K. This document could have been much better had the party made its draft public a week back and sought comments from people. At a time when 10,000 people die every year in J&K due to air pollution only, isn’t it a matter of serious concern.

This was revealed by former Director of SKIMS Srinagar Dr Parvez Koul in December 2022 when the J&K Chapter for Doctors for Clean Air and Climate Action was launched. We face massive water pollution as well which also causes lots of ailments, even deaths, but no official study has been conducted in this regard. Our drinking water sources are being polluted and Kashmir valley is getting choked with trash.

The impact of global warming is quite visible in Kashmir and we have seen how weather changed completely this summer in Kashmir with mercury crossing even 36 degrees in Srinagar. When the situation is so alarming I was expecting a Green Manifesto from NC and other political parties. It seems our political leaders are still not so serious about climate change, and about the environmental destruction happening in J&K? As we are expecting a new Govt to be sworn in by October second week in J&K, it is impressed upon our local leaders who have the ability to form the next Govt to make sure they come up with drastic policies vis a vis environmental protection.

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow. He is Founder and Chairman Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement