J&K to prepare 40 year master plan for environment

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Feb 15: With concerns rising over increased environmental destruction to achieve economic development, state government has started work to formulate region wise master plans for next 40 years, to establish harmony between the two.

Under the Master Plan, the areas to be used for establishing residential colonies, educational and health institutions, public utility services will be marked, with no changes for next few years.

Officials said that such Master Plans would be valid for the next 40-50 years keeping into account emerging requirements.

Minister for Forest, Mian Altaf Ahmed said, “We are making a detailed plan so that while taking up developmental projects, fragile environment is kept in safe mode”.

Climate Change and Global Warming has become a major threat for the state, first the insurgency led to destruction of the forests and now in past ten years, big developmental projects have led to massive environmental degradation across the region.

It is pertinent to mention here that recently a study conducted by the weather scientists at SKUAST Jammu has said that in past two decades, there has been one-degree rise in temperature in the state, which had sent alarm bells ringing among the officials.

Altaf said, all concerned governmental authorities have been roped in to make a multi-dimensional approach to protect the fragile ecosystems.

Experts say that the Himalayan region, which is called the roof of the world, is a source of many mighty rivers flowing perennially round the year and if there is two percent increase in the temperature by 2050, as much as 35 percent of these glaciers will disappear, which could pose problem for the state.

Recently during a three day workshop in Jammu, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah had asked the scientists and government departments to meet regularly to create mechanism to ensure that environmental protection becomes part of the agencies engaged in different projects.

Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing warmer winters and severe summers. In recent years the rising population has also put pressure on water bodies, pastures, forests and glaciers giving rise to draught like conditions in the Kandi areas of the Valley and plains of Jammu.

In recent years a tonne of soot and pollutants chimneys of brick kilns and industrial units has also mixed with the air.

“Though government is concerned over environmental degradation, but it cannot stop infrastructure projects. It will be a challange”, said a officials.