Forest Minister meets GCC delegation; advocates collective efforts towards environment preservation

JAMMU : Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today reiterated that protection of the environment is a shared responsibility and called for a collective approach towards preserving the natural resources for the posterity.

The Minister was speaking during an interaction with a delegation of the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), led by its Chairman Khurshid Ahmad Ganie, former Advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

The delegation raised a range of issues pertaining to environmental degradation and urged the government to adopt robust conservation and preservation measures across Jammu and Kashmir.

Acknowledging the concerns raised, Rana said that while environmental challenges are being faced globally, Jammu and Kashmir is no exception.

“Our ecosystem is under stress and there is an urgent need for collective and coordinated efforts to address the environmental challenges confronting our region,” he said.

“We must identify areas where the government, civil society and communities can work together to improve the overall environmental health of Jammu and Kashmir.”

The Minister assured that the issues and suggestions put forth by GCC would be considered for better management of environmental issues.

The department will assess the feasibility of the proposals, identify areas for improvement and take appropriate steps for their effective implementation, he said.

Emphasising the need for unity, he added that safeguarding the environment that sustains us all has become imperative now more than ever.

Earlier, Khurshid Ahmad Ganie and other members of GCC stressed that the government must take concrete steps to deal with the growing threats of environmental degradation and climate change in Jammu and Kashmir. They cautioned that failure to preserve and protect the natural resources could lead to severe consequences, including an increased frequency of natural calamities.

The GCC members drew attention to the alarming retreat of glaciers, which serve as a lifeline for drinking water and irrigation in the region and urged the government to formulate long-term strategies for their protection.

They also highlighted the sharp rise in vehicular pollution due to the increasing number of private vehicles and stressed the need to strengthen the public transport system and explore innovative, out-of-the-box solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating condition of wetlands in Kashmir, the delegation underlined the urgent need for their protection. They noted that wetlands act as natural sponges that help prevent floods and must be safeguarded against encroachment and other forms of environmental degradation.

The GCC members brought to the Minister’s notice the recurring incidents of tree felling saying that the elements of nature are deeply interconnected, with disturbances in one area having far-reaching consequences for human survival.

They also emphasised that Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) should be made mandatory for all developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir prior to their execution.

Other key issues raised included regeneration of forest cover, rejuvenation of degraded forests, compensatory afforestation, protection of wetlands and revival and restoration of springs.
The delegation also highlighted the concerns related to the Jal Shakti Department, calling for continuous monitoring of water quality. They pointed out that turbidity in piped water often increases during rainfall near source areas and stressed the need for timely intervention.

Additionally, the GCC discussed flood protection measures for the Jhelum and Tawi rivers and urged the government to ensure urgent execution of flood mitigation plans to protect vulnerable areas from future flood events.

The meeting was attended by the Commissioner Secretary, Forests, Ecology and Environment; Chairman, Pollution Control Committee; Chief Wildlife Warden; Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Kashmir; Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Kashmir; CEO, WUCMA; Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir; Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu and Director, Planning and Statistics, Jal Shakti Department.