House Committee on Environment Holds First Meeting on World Environment Day
Tarigami Calls Environmental Protection a Collective Moral Responsibility
Srinagar, June 5 (PTK): Marking World Environment Day, the House Committee on Environment of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday convened its introductory meeting at the Legislative Assembly Complex in Srinagar under the chairmanship of MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami.
The meeting was attended by committee members including Professor Gharu Ram, Baldev Raj Sharma, Daleep Singh, Showkat Hussain Ganai, Javaid Ahmad Mirchal, Dr. Sajjad Shafi, Javaid Reyaz Bedar, Dr. Rameshwar Singh and Devyani Rana.
Addressing the members, Tarigami expressed gratitude to the committee members for taking up a responsibility that concerns not only human beings but also wildlife, flora, fauna and future generations. He stated that environmental protection should not be viewed merely as an administrative responsibility but as a collective moral obligation towards society and nature.
The Chairman highlighted several pressing environmental challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir, including pollution of water bodies, unscientific waste disposal, deforestation, excessive plastic usage, degradation of wetlands and the shrinking of green cover across the Union Territory.
Expressing serious concern over the deteriorating condition of Anchar Lake and other water bodies in Kashmir, Tarigami said that continued pollution, encroachments and neglect pose a serious threat to the region’s ecological balance.
He stressed the urgent need for restoration and conservation of lakes, rivers, forests and wetlands in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions. He observed that unchecked urbanization, environmental degradation and climate change are adversely impacting biodiversity, public health and the fragile ecosystem of the Union Territory.
Members of the committee shared their suggestions and unanimously agreed that the committee has a crucial role in safeguarding the environmental future of Jammu and Kashmir. They emphasized that government departments and the administration should provide full cooperation and institutional support for effective implementation of the committee’s recommendations.
The committee also proposed conducting extensive visits across different districts and regions of Jammu and Kashmir to interact with the public, assess environmental concerns at the grassroots level and create awareness regarding the importance of environmental conservation.
The members further called for strengthening waste management systems, preventing illegal dumping of waste, protecting water bodies and wetlands, promoting afforestation initiatives and curbing indiscriminate use of plastic through strict enforcement and active public participation.
The meeting concluded with a collective resolve to work towards preserving the environment and ensuring sustainable ecological development for present and future generations.(PTK)
