Jammu and Kashmir is situated in ecologically fragile Himalayan region in the extreme north of the country. It has two distinctive geographic regions namely; Jammu, and Kashmir. Both the regions have varied generic potentialities for development and each is beset with a set of concerns limiting progress and economic development. Despite being economically backward J&K over the last few decades has witnessed radical transformation in various sectors. It has a long history of hazard and has witnessed innumerable vulnerabilities to man-made and natural threats. The most sensitive aspect which is being debated is saturated use, abuse and misuse natural endowments areas in various form having direct and indirect bearing on the ecology, environment and sustenance. It has also set in a chain of events which are threatening the survival of the living habitats with recurrent natural disasters e.g. looming threat of floods, avalanches, wind storms, forest fires, soil erosion, loss of soil cover, receding snowline, disappearing glaciers, erratic precipitation, deforestation, and loss of wild life. This has also set in a process of modulation in climate of Kashmir with severe implications with resultant stark vulnerabilities to sustainability. The forests have been indiscriminately and ruthless cut reducing the green cover which is essential for checking changes in climate. The situation has been no good with respect to development projects often taken up without environment impact assessment (EIA), is also proving critical for the resilience to man-made and natural disasters. Be it construction of roads, railway, residential development, bridges, hydro power projects, ring roads, preservation of floodplains, plantation in cities, flood protection measures, dredging of rivers etc. all have been taken up in a manner which is multiplying the woes, risks and vulnerabilities instead of easing them out. Urban development in all urban areas has been unregulated and spontaneous, is haphazardly and incongruously expanding in rich hinterland all over the Kashmir generating tentacles to urban sustainability and resilience. Biggest worrying factor in Kashmir valley especially in Srinagar and other small towns has been continued reduction in green cover, loss of scarce fertile land to haphazard urban development and degradation of wetlands/lakes and marshes enhancing vulnerabilities to the built/natural environment making it highly sensitive to recurring catastrophes.
Depletion Natural Endowments
The urban Kashmir temperature is showing slow but consistent increase, erratic precipitation patterns, vanishing majestic Chinar trees, loss of micro river habitats due to cutting of plantation from the embankments, emergence of road and railway infrastructure devoid of plantation, eutrophication of wetlands, lakes, closing of natural water outfall channels, high dose of pollution to fresh water perennial rivers due disposal and draining/pumping of untreated sewage .It has changed Srinagar Green city and given it a tag of polluted city or dirty city with deplorable living conditions. It has also reduced the green cover in urban areas which used to act as “heat sinks” a measure deterrent for climate change and a modifier of seasonal climate at micro level besides keeping urban climate moderate in summer. The green areas along the water courses also provided habitat to rich variety of plants and migratory birds which are now very rarely seen in valley. The damages inflicted have to be retrieved to restore pristine glory of the Kashmir and tourist image for safe guarding and making it sustainable for forerunner of the future.
The Jammu and Kashmir has been reeling through a spell of disturbance and turmoil over last thirty years. During the same period massive damages have also been inflicted to its fragile natural resources and at present it is confronted with a multitude of ecological, environmental and sustainability challenges too. The gravity of the problem has been more intensive in the valley which had to bear the brunt and damages on both counts. Some of the major issue in the context of the project are listed as under:
Deforestation
Kashmir has witnessed deforestation on account of poor management and illegal felling of trees which are changing physical and socio-economic life of the Kashmir valley. Deforested hills have been the prime cause of the heavy siltation of its water bodies. This is now being aggravated by changes in land use pattern due to water scarcity in the catchments of the Jhelum and has become a reason for setting in process of climate change. It is substantially adding the siltation load in the river that feeds the wet lands, lakes, and Wular Lake, Kashmir’s largest flood reservoir basin. In south Kashmir massive degradation in the forest area and adjacent river catchments has been observed, is the main cause for recurrent swelling of river Jhelum waters. Studies also indicate that 18% of the dense forested area has degraded into sparse forest or scrublands from 1972 to 2010, and the areas under croplands have decreased by 24% as people shifted from irrigation-intensive agriculture to orchard farming while settlements showed a 397% increase during the observation period. The hills of north Kashmir range have immensely contributed towards erosion and subsequent siltation within the Wular Lake due to deforestation and receding glaciers. These mountain ranges bordering the lake area towards its north-eastern, north-western and eastern sides have been carrying eroded silt load and depositing in the lake.
Unplanned Urbanization
Kashmir is losing its prime agricultural land , hillslopes horticulture land and wetlands to rapid urbanization and faulty urban land-use policies . Unplanned construction consisting of residential colonies, factories, brick kilns, shopping complexes and other commercial infrastructure are severely damaging the agricultural and ecological resources of the valley. Annually, Kashmir is losing an average 1,375 hectares of agricultural land to unplanned urbanization. In Kashmir about 85% of the urban settlement do not have master plan to regulate the expansion wherever these are in operation, very rarely except grant of permission, these are implemented due non formulation of zonal plans which makes whole process a futile exercise. Thus, cities and towns are expanding without any proper urban planning and growth is in no way a sustainable development.
Climate Change Vulnerability
Consequent to deforestation Valley of Kashmir has reported recorded changes in its precipitation patterns, season on-setting, vulnerability to disasters, receding of glaciers, cropping pattern, water availability, emergence of heat zone, recurrent floods, urban flash floods, avalanches, soil creeps, and landslides. All these issues being inter related and interwoven are a cause forwide spread Changes in land use triggered by climate change and are adding heavy silt load in Kashmir’s water bodies. In processes have accelerated physical deterioration of the hill slopes around the valley acting as catchment to most of the rivers with unabated silt load added both within the river basins, floodplains, lakes and wet lands. If the process of deforestation continues and measures are taken to afforest and reclaim deforested areas the problem is likely to assume challenging proposition with recurrent colossal damages and long term climatic fall out. It bound to have serious repercussion on tourist image and future ecology and environment of the valley.
The annual average normal precipitation for the Kashmir Himalayan region is 660 mm, but data for the last 11 years indicate wide variations from the norm. The region has witnessed a huge shift from paddy cultivation to horticulture in recent decades. In 1953-54, area under fruit cultivation was just 12,400 hectares with a production of only about 16,000 metric tons. At present, an area of 325,000 hectares of land is under fruit cultivation and production has touched an all-time high of 2.2 million metric tons could easily attributed changes in irrigation and economic value of the horticulture.
Waste Disposal
There are about 40urban settlements in Kashmir only one among these has waste disposal site i.e. Srinagar city. Almost all the remaining urban settlement are without any appropriate waste disposal site forcing and constraining the urban local agencies to dispense and dispose the waste indiscriminately against all the norms. Kashmir Division has at present urban population of about 26 lakhs, at an average 900-1000 tons of waste is generated daily out of which about 350 -400 tons of waste reach to disposal site. Out of all urban centers, Srinagar city has only its regulated disposal site while as waste generated in other cities and town is dumped into depressions, near water bodies, hill canyons generating nuisance, pollution of all sorts in the immediate vicinities and even pollutes water bodies and abutting rich agricultural lands. This is generating very serious environmental issue of great concern which need to be addressed on priority as it is a key aspect for sustainability of urban areas and environmental safeguard. The situation in rural areas is much worse where rural sanitation is occasionally carried out but these areas san requisite solid waste infra and mechanism. The waste generated often finds its way on the edges of roads, incidental space, ditches depressions, nallahs and streams making whole village communities vulnerable to vector borne diseases and environmental hazards.
Water Pollution
Kashmir valley is rich in fresh water and underground water resources. However, the scarce and precious resource is indiscriminately mismanaged ignoring the underlined significance attached to it for the very survival of life. In Kashmir except treatment to paltry 54MLD about 450MLDare either pumped and drained into various water bodies cumulatively destroying the water resource irrationally and carelessly. It is decline the quality of water in most of the water bodies some of them have turned into virtual cesspools rendering it unfit for use and endangering aquatic life. If appropriate steps are not taken time is not far away when Kashmir will be confronted with problems of shortages of water despite having water available in plenty which is a various foreseeable sustainability issue.
Air Pollution
Kashmir Valley is beset with problems of air pollution predominantly due increased vehicular emissions. As reported more than 0ne lakh vehicle of different nature are added annually in the valley which emit and adda very high dose of pollution to the ambientair and decline its quality. The problems become very acute when the air gets ensnared, saturated and remains suspended close to earth in the bowl shaped valley, turns situation murkier and foggy. This situation, if associated with dry spell leads to health complications and reduced visibility along with poor air quality. It also forms recurrent dense fog cover severely affecting routine life. Geographical phenomenon of inversion of temperature, convection and saturation of entombed air also plays a role in formation of fog or haze primarily due to aerosol fraternization consisting of fine particles found in smog, smoke, and dust. The problem is more severe in cities and towns which have higher concentration vehicle population and consume more energy. If the trend of growth of fossil fuel vehicle continues unabatedly in conjunction with use of wood for cooking and heating purpose it is bound to deplete further the air quality and in aggregation would impact and compromise its sustainability. Due deteriorating air quality index Meteorological Department very recently issued an advisory J&K about prolonged foggy conditions for most of the districts. Srinagar as most urbanized district of the Kashmir has witnessed worst fog spell due to air pollution on account of excessively high dose of pollution. The recent air quality conditions issued for Srinagar which include PM2.5 concentration at 44 in Srinagar on 28th December which exceedingly above the recommended limits with Air Quality Index (AQI) of 114 classified as poor air quality and is often detrimental to health. The pollution is also supplemented by burning of wood/bi-products of woods for heating and cooking purposes and coal in brick kilns which further builds-up of particulate matter, black carbon, NOx, and SOx as well as secondary pollutants including ozone,volatile organic compounds, posing environmental and health risks collectively.
Needed Sustainability Efforts
Since Kashmir at present is at thriving pedestal of growth and change. These changes are associated with consequent modifications in its structure, functioning and biosphere. Any harm and damages inflicted to it at any level, to any of the sub-systems/systems has cumulative causative effects to the extent of vulnerabilities which are intricately linked to its sustainability. For proper understanding of the mechanism of inter linkages it would require in-depth insight into maturation and environmental initiatives where in sustainability has to be made core whole theme. Efforts have to made that the measures which emerge based on nature based solution, realistic, and conventional too. Along with this mass awareness about elements of nature, climatic change and importance of tree plantation in Kashmir is also of paramount importance need to be made cornerstone for ensuring sustainability. Involvement of general public especially young and school going through organizing special camps, competitions, symposiums, marathons. Special events need to organized on arboriculture day, world environment day, world town planning day and other relevant occasions to infuse awareness about importance of ecology, environment, forests, planned urban and settlement development and sustainability to set in a process of imbuing awareness for sustainability. These events need to be focused on;
Improvements in vegetal cover of urban areas and the tourist resorts.
Check soil erosion, vulnerability to landslides and avalanches.
Greater knowledge about earthquake hazards, safety and mitigation measures.
Check siltation to water bodies and arrest their shrinkage eutrophication problems.
Mitigate problems of recurrent flooding –both flash flood and urban flooding.
Improve the tourist image of Srinagar and valley.
Enable to recreate heat sinks within the city to modulate urban heat developed during peak summers and its effect on the ecology.
Improve the landscape of the urban.
Provide and protect viable lung spaces in urbanareas to overcome the deficiency in the organized open spaces.
Improve irrigation and water resource management.
Check climate change and infuse sustainability in inevitable development process.
Use of EV in place of vehicle using fossil fuel.
Harness and use renewable sources of energy.
Adopt innovative solid waste management practice to embark of achieving zero waste.
Frame comprehensive policy for regulating the urban development and to achieve sustainable cities/towns.
Massive plantation project is immense importance in short run and the foreseeable future. The plantation drives in endowment areas immediately would result in much needed improvements in vegetal cover and lend it back the lost glory but its long term impacts in the form of curbing soil erosion, cutting of hill slope, improving snow cover and checking climate change are going to bring immense impact on ecology and the economy of the state.
Afforestation of local spices of tree on the degraded hill slopes, incidental places, be it exposed bed rock areas, steep hill slopes, escarpments, cliffs, river banks and sides of newly developed roads will be taken up for plantation in consultation with department of forest and local people. It likely to reestablish natural beauty, tourist image besides fulfilling the long term goal of mitigating the environmental trepidations of deforestation and consequent climate change to avoid retreating of snow line and glaciers because of its image of worlds famous tourist attraction
Overall the plantation of trees in any form would bring with it, innumerable tangible and intangible benefits as its deliverable to Kashmir. It is going to save scarce funds of government on activities which are expenditure intensive and corrective in nature without returns.
The identified government department would provide necessary technical assistance and clearance for the plantation drive so that there is no overlapping and crisscrossing of the projects for avoidance of wastage of funds. General public including citizens, students, business houses, and industrial enterprises need to be involved as main stakeholders to facilitate plantation drives through active participation, simultaneously create awareness among masses about the long term and shot term benefits of tree plantation in ecologically fragile area like Kashmir valley.
Bottom line
Since sustainability forms the core of all the environmental concerns in Kashmir as such sustainability vulnerabilities which are interlinked and intertwined with each other and climate change, need to be addressed on priority by adopting nature based solutions through conventional approach. For this, there is an urgent need to ensure a robust and a conclusive approach to evaluate the vulnerabilities in Kashmir Valley. Policy makers need to undertaking to frame a perspective to provide an effective sustainability plan and enhance resilience of gamut of sectors, through implementation preventive and mitigation measures for minimizing its adversative impacts and vulnerabilities both man-made and natural.
Email;---------------hamwani24@gmail.com
Jammu and Kashmir is situated in ecologically fragile Himalayan region in the extreme north of the country. It has two distinctive geographic regions namely; Jammu, and Kashmir. Both the regions have varied generic potentialities for development and each is beset with a set of concerns limiting progress and economic development. Despite being economically backward J&K over the last few decades has witnessed radical transformation in various sectors. It has a long history of hazard and has witnessed innumerable vulnerabilities to man-made and natural threats. The most sensitive aspect which is being debated is saturated use, abuse and misuse natural endowments areas in various form having direct and indirect bearing on the ecology, environment and sustenance. It has also set in a chain of events which are threatening the survival of the living habitats with recurrent natural disasters e.g. looming threat of floods, avalanches, wind storms, forest fires, soil erosion, loss of soil cover, receding snowline, disappearing glaciers, erratic precipitation, deforestation, and loss of wild life. This has also set in a process of modulation in climate of Kashmir with severe implications with resultant stark vulnerabilities to sustainability. The forests have been indiscriminately and ruthless cut reducing the green cover which is essential for checking changes in climate. The situation has been no good with respect to development projects often taken up without environment impact assessment (EIA), is also proving critical for the resilience to man-made and natural disasters. Be it construction of roads, railway, residential development, bridges, hydro power projects, ring roads, preservation of floodplains, plantation in cities, flood protection measures, dredging of rivers etc. all have been taken up in a manner which is multiplying the woes, risks and vulnerabilities instead of easing them out. Urban development in all urban areas has been unregulated and spontaneous, is haphazardly and incongruously expanding in rich hinterland all over the Kashmir generating tentacles to urban sustainability and resilience. Biggest worrying factor in Kashmir valley especially in Srinagar and other small towns has been continued reduction in green cover, loss of scarce fertile land to haphazard urban development and degradation of wetlands/lakes and marshes enhancing vulnerabilities to the built/natural environment making it highly sensitive to recurring catastrophes.
Depletion Natural Endowments
The urban Kashmir temperature is showing slow but consistent increase, erratic precipitation patterns, vanishing majestic Chinar trees, loss of micro river habitats due to cutting of plantation from the embankments, emergence of road and railway infrastructure devoid of plantation, eutrophication of wetlands, lakes, closing of natural water outfall channels, high dose of pollution to fresh water perennial rivers due disposal and draining/pumping of untreated sewage .It has changed Srinagar Green city and given it a tag of polluted city or dirty city with deplorable living conditions. It has also reduced the green cover in urban areas which used to act as “heat sinks” a measure deterrent for climate change and a modifier of seasonal climate at micro level besides keeping urban climate moderate in summer. The green areas along the water courses also provided habitat to rich variety of plants and migratory birds which are now very rarely seen in valley. The damages inflicted have to be retrieved to restore pristine glory of the Kashmir and tourist image for safe guarding and making it sustainable for forerunner of the future.
The Jammu and Kashmir has been reeling through a spell of disturbance and turmoil over last thirty years. During the same period massive damages have also been inflicted to its fragile natural resources and at present it is confronted with a multitude of ecological, environmental and sustainability challenges too. The gravity of the problem has been more intensive in the valley which had to bear the brunt and damages on both counts. Some of the major issue in the context of the project are listed as under:
Deforestation
Kashmir has witnessed deforestation on account of poor management and illegal felling of trees which are changing physical and socio-economic life of the Kashmir valley. Deforested hills have been the prime cause of the heavy siltation of its water bodies. This is now being aggravated by changes in land use pattern due to water scarcity in the catchments of the Jhelum and has become a reason for setting in process of climate change. It is substantially adding the siltation load in the river that feeds the wet lands, lakes, and Wular Lake, Kashmir’s largest flood reservoir basin. In south Kashmir massive degradation in the forest area and adjacent river catchments has been observed, is the main cause for recurrent swelling of river Jhelum waters. Studies also indicate that 18% of the dense forested area has degraded into sparse forest or scrublands from 1972 to 2010, and the areas under croplands have decreased by 24% as people shifted from irrigation-intensive agriculture to orchard farming while settlements showed a 397% increase during the observation period. The hills of north Kashmir range have immensely contributed towards erosion and subsequent siltation within the Wular Lake due to deforestation and receding glaciers. These mountain ranges bordering the lake area towards its north-eastern, north-western and eastern sides have been carrying eroded silt load and depositing in the lake.
Unplanned Urbanization
Kashmir is losing its prime agricultural land , hillslopes horticulture land and wetlands to rapid urbanization and faulty urban land-use policies . Unplanned construction consisting of residential colonies, factories, brick kilns, shopping complexes and other commercial infrastructure are severely damaging the agricultural and ecological resources of the valley. Annually, Kashmir is losing an average 1,375 hectares of agricultural land to unplanned urbanization. In Kashmir about 85% of the urban settlement do not have master plan to regulate the expansion wherever these are in operation, very rarely except grant of permission, these are implemented due non formulation of zonal plans which makes whole process a futile exercise. Thus, cities and towns are expanding without any proper urban planning and growth is in no way a sustainable development.
Climate Change Vulnerability
Consequent to deforestation Valley of Kashmir has reported recorded changes in its precipitation patterns, season on-setting, vulnerability to disasters, receding of glaciers, cropping pattern, water availability, emergence of heat zone, recurrent floods, urban flash floods, avalanches, soil creeps, and landslides. All these issues being inter related and interwoven are a cause forwide spread Changes in land use triggered by climate change and are adding heavy silt load in Kashmir’s water bodies. In processes have accelerated physical deterioration of the hill slopes around the valley acting as catchment to most of the rivers with unabated silt load added both within the river basins, floodplains, lakes and wet lands. If the process of deforestation continues and measures are taken to afforest and reclaim deforested areas the problem is likely to assume challenging proposition with recurrent colossal damages and long term climatic fall out. It bound to have serious repercussion on tourist image and future ecology and environment of the valley.
The annual average normal precipitation for the Kashmir Himalayan region is 660 mm, but data for the last 11 years indicate wide variations from the norm. The region has witnessed a huge shift from paddy cultivation to horticulture in recent decades. In 1953-54, area under fruit cultivation was just 12,400 hectares with a production of only about 16,000 metric tons. At present, an area of 325,000 hectares of land is under fruit cultivation and production has touched an all-time high of 2.2 million metric tons could easily attributed changes in irrigation and economic value of the horticulture.
Waste Disposal
There are about 40urban settlements in Kashmir only one among these has waste disposal site i.e. Srinagar city. Almost all the remaining urban settlement are without any appropriate waste disposal site forcing and constraining the urban local agencies to dispense and dispose the waste indiscriminately against all the norms. Kashmir Division has at present urban population of about 26 lakhs, at an average 900-1000 tons of waste is generated daily out of which about 350 -400 tons of waste reach to disposal site. Out of all urban centers, Srinagar city has only its regulated disposal site while as waste generated in other cities and town is dumped into depressions, near water bodies, hill canyons generating nuisance, pollution of all sorts in the immediate vicinities and even pollutes water bodies and abutting rich agricultural lands. This is generating very serious environmental issue of great concern which need to be addressed on priority as it is a key aspect for sustainability of urban areas and environmental safeguard. The situation in rural areas is much worse where rural sanitation is occasionally carried out but these areas san requisite solid waste infra and mechanism. The waste generated often finds its way on the edges of roads, incidental space, ditches depressions, nallahs and streams making whole village communities vulnerable to vector borne diseases and environmental hazards.
Water Pollution
Kashmir valley is rich in fresh water and underground water resources. However, the scarce and precious resource is indiscriminately mismanaged ignoring the underlined significance attached to it for the very survival of life. In Kashmir except treatment to paltry 54MLD about 450MLDare either pumped and drained into various water bodies cumulatively destroying the water resource irrationally and carelessly. It is decline the quality of water in most of the water bodies some of them have turned into virtual cesspools rendering it unfit for use and endangering aquatic life. If appropriate steps are not taken time is not far away when Kashmir will be confronted with problems of shortages of water despite having water available in plenty which is a various foreseeable sustainability issue.
Air Pollution
Kashmir Valley is beset with problems of air pollution predominantly due increased vehicular emissions. As reported more than 0ne lakh vehicle of different nature are added annually in the valley which emit and adda very high dose of pollution to the ambientair and decline its quality. The problems become very acute when the air gets ensnared, saturated and remains suspended close to earth in the bowl shaped valley, turns situation murkier and foggy. This situation, if associated with dry spell leads to health complications and reduced visibility along with poor air quality. It also forms recurrent dense fog cover severely affecting routine life. Geographical phenomenon of inversion of temperature, convection and saturation of entombed air also plays a role in formation of fog or haze primarily due to aerosol fraternization consisting of fine particles found in smog, smoke, and dust. The problem is more severe in cities and towns which have higher concentration vehicle population and consume more energy. If the trend of growth of fossil fuel vehicle continues unabatedly in conjunction with use of wood for cooking and heating purpose it is bound to deplete further the air quality and in aggregation would impact and compromise its sustainability. Due deteriorating air quality index Meteorological Department very recently issued an advisory J&K about prolonged foggy conditions for most of the districts. Srinagar as most urbanized district of the Kashmir has witnessed worst fog spell due to air pollution on account of excessively high dose of pollution. The recent air quality conditions issued for Srinagar which include PM2.5 concentration at 44 in Srinagar on 28th December which exceedingly above the recommended limits with Air Quality Index (AQI) of 114 classified as poor air quality and is often detrimental to health. The pollution is also supplemented by burning of wood/bi-products of woods for heating and cooking purposes and coal in brick kilns which further builds-up of particulate matter, black carbon, NOx, and SOx as well as secondary pollutants including ozone,volatile organic compounds, posing environmental and health risks collectively.
Needed Sustainability Efforts
Since Kashmir at present is at thriving pedestal of growth and change. These changes are associated with consequent modifications in its structure, functioning and biosphere. Any harm and damages inflicted to it at any level, to any of the sub-systems/systems has cumulative causative effects to the extent of vulnerabilities which are intricately linked to its sustainability. For proper understanding of the mechanism of inter linkages it would require in-depth insight into maturation and environmental initiatives where in sustainability has to be made core whole theme. Efforts have to made that the measures which emerge based on nature based solution, realistic, and conventional too. Along with this mass awareness about elements of nature, climatic change and importance of tree plantation in Kashmir is also of paramount importance need to be made cornerstone for ensuring sustainability. Involvement of general public especially young and school going through organizing special camps, competitions, symposiums, marathons. Special events need to organized on arboriculture day, world environment day, world town planning day and other relevant occasions to infuse awareness about importance of ecology, environment, forests, planned urban and settlement development and sustainability to set in a process of imbuing awareness for sustainability. These events need to be focused on;
Improvements in vegetal cover of urban areas and the tourist resorts.
Check soil erosion, vulnerability to landslides and avalanches.
Greater knowledge about earthquake hazards, safety and mitigation measures.
Check siltation to water bodies and arrest their shrinkage eutrophication problems.
Mitigate problems of recurrent flooding –both flash flood and urban flooding.
Improve the tourist image of Srinagar and valley.
Enable to recreate heat sinks within the city to modulate urban heat developed during peak summers and its effect on the ecology.
Improve the landscape of the urban.
Provide and protect viable lung spaces in urbanareas to overcome the deficiency in the organized open spaces.
Improve irrigation and water resource management.
Check climate change and infuse sustainability in inevitable development process.
Use of EV in place of vehicle using fossil fuel.
Harness and use renewable sources of energy.
Adopt innovative solid waste management practice to embark of achieving zero waste.
Frame comprehensive policy for regulating the urban development and to achieve sustainable cities/towns.
Massive plantation project is immense importance in short run and the foreseeable future. The plantation drives in endowment areas immediately would result in much needed improvements in vegetal cover and lend it back the lost glory but its long term impacts in the form of curbing soil erosion, cutting of hill slope, improving snow cover and checking climate change are going to bring immense impact on ecology and the economy of the state.
Afforestation of local spices of tree on the degraded hill slopes, incidental places, be it exposed bed rock areas, steep hill slopes, escarpments, cliffs, river banks and sides of newly developed roads will be taken up for plantation in consultation with department of forest and local people. It likely to reestablish natural beauty, tourist image besides fulfilling the long term goal of mitigating the environmental trepidations of deforestation and consequent climate change to avoid retreating of snow line and glaciers because of its image of worlds famous tourist attraction
Overall the plantation of trees in any form would bring with it, innumerable tangible and intangible benefits as its deliverable to Kashmir. It is going to save scarce funds of government on activities which are expenditure intensive and corrective in nature without returns.
The identified government department would provide necessary technical assistance and clearance for the plantation drive so that there is no overlapping and crisscrossing of the projects for avoidance of wastage of funds. General public including citizens, students, business houses, and industrial enterprises need to be involved as main stakeholders to facilitate plantation drives through active participation, simultaneously create awareness among masses about the long term and shot term benefits of tree plantation in ecologically fragile area like Kashmir valley.
Bottom line
Since sustainability forms the core of all the environmental concerns in Kashmir as such sustainability vulnerabilities which are interlinked and intertwined with each other and climate change, need to be addressed on priority by adopting nature based solutions through conventional approach. For this, there is an urgent need to ensure a robust and a conclusive approach to evaluate the vulnerabilities in Kashmir Valley. Policy makers need to undertaking to frame a perspective to provide an effective sustainability plan and enhance resilience of gamut of sectors, through implementation preventive and mitigation measures for minimizing its adversative impacts and vulnerabilities both man-made and natural.
Email;---------------hamwani24@gmail.com
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