SRINAGAR: The Environment Committee of Jammu and Kashmir’s Legislative Council has called for inter-departmental discussions over challenges posed by global warming and its impact on the environment of the state.
The Committee, headed by Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri), opined that the state has suffered substantially due to lack of planning to cover environment and deforestation, an official statement said.
“The State has been blessed with rich natural resources and healthy environment and all out efforts should be made to protect these with the coordinated approach and involvement of various stakeholders,” the committee observed.
The Forest Department gave a comprehensive Power Point Presentation on climate change and its impact on forests of the state before the House Committee.
The presentation, inter-alia, touched on the areas of depleting forest cover and its impact on water availability, flora and fauna and the environment.
The meeting was informed that in future the temperature is likely to increase, however the State would also experience greater rainfall. The Forest Department is ambitiously targeting covering 66% area with forests as against the present coverage of only 42%.
The Chairman and the members of the Committee registered their concern on depleting forests as also “ruthless felling” of trees including Chinars.
During the deliberations it was suggested that Horticulture plantation could be encouraged on the wastelands on PPP mode.
Further it was suggested that Ladakh region could be made greener, as with the new power projects the water availability there can be ensured.
The Chairman suggested that inter departmental deliberations are a must to evolve a consensus on future road map for sustainable eco-system.
