Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Oct 7: The problem of water pollution is "very severe" in Jammu and Kashmir that has emerged over the years, says an official document.
An official document of Forest Department said that the problem of water pollution is very severe in the state.
"In Kashmir, the river Jhelum has been converted into a drain due to the severe water pollution. The entire vale is located on the right and left banks of this river and the raw effluent from all the major towns finds its way directly into this river which has severely damaged the water quality," the document reads.
It also talks about various environmental challenges that have emerged over the years.
The document said that government has to protect and conserve critical ecological systems and natural resources, and invaluable natural and man-made heritage.
The document of the Forest Department says that forests are degrading alarmingly and the biodiversity base is shrinking, disrupting the "ecology seriously".
"These lead to alarming fall in water availability in the rivers and other wetland systems and, also to landslides and heavy sedimentation of reservoirs. J&K continues to lose its biodiversity at alarming rates due to habitat destruction, overgrazing, deforestation, pollution, unsustainable harvesting of natural resources," the document reads.
As per a recent report of Forest Survey of India, Jammu and Kashmir does not figure among the top 15 green states in India.
The government document says that climate change also poses significant environmental challenges to Jammu and Kashmir.
"It is evidenced by the frequent cloud-bursts and water shortages that affect energy supplies. This is happening at a time when energy consumption in the state is on the increase, even as utilization of renewable energy sources exclusive of hydro-electricity remains relatively low. Other adverse impacts of climate change can be seen in form of frequent and intensified natural disasters such as floods, landslides and prolonged droughts," it reads.
There has also been an increasing threat from industrial pollution to the environment.
"Mining and processing activities have caused severe environmental problems," it says.
There has also been a growing urbanisation, which, as per the document, impacts the urban landscapes and living environment, making it more and more un-inhabitable.
The document said, the policies and laws in the state are not "harmonised" with each other and with the Constitution.
"These include policies and laws concerning agriculture, land, water, forests, trade and industry, which have significant implications for the environment. The sectoral rather than integrated and ecosystem approach to management of natural resources has proved inadequate in addressing environmental challenges," it reads.
It has pointed out the objectives of the policy and said that new environmental challenges will emerge in future.
Over the years, the state has witnessed a huge loss to the environment in the absence of a concrete environmental policy.
The Government of India had framed National Environment Policy in 2006, aiming at mainstreaming environmental concerns into all developmental activities.
Despite environmentalists warning about possible natural disasters, the environmental policy was not extended to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. |
