Taskeen Maqsood
Srinagar, Oct 12 (JKNS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said Jammu and Kashmir aims to become the first Himalayan territory to adopt a Mountain Development Policy, stressing that the framework must be formulated through collective consultation rather than in isolation.
Addressing the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), the Chief Minister said sustainable mountain development was essential for the region’s survival, given its dependence on agriculture, horticulture and natural resources.
Omar said there was a misconception outside Jammu and Kashmir that tourism was the main contributor to the region’s economy, whereas agriculture and horticulture contributed significantly more.
“For us, protecting our environment and sustainable mountain development is our existence, and our very survival depends on it,” he said.
Highlighting emerging climate-related challenges, the Chief Minister said Kashmir had witnessed a shortage of rainfall, uneven snowfall and an unusual series of cloudbursts over the past couple of years.
Calling it a new reality, he stressed the need to find ways to sustain livelihoods while ensuring that development continued.
The Chief Minister said environmental protection could not be achieved by the government alone and required collective efforts from citizens, adding that climate change could not be tackled single-handedly by any region or country.
On tourism, Omar said the government had discussed limiting tourist numbers in closed-door meetings, but restricting visitors was not a straightforward option as many families in Jammu and Kashmir depended on the sector for their livelihoods.
He acknowledged that certain tourist destinations had limited carrying capacity and said there was a need to expand the tourism sector while addressing the growing pressure on the environment.
However, he cautioned against attributing all environmental problems to tourists and pilgrims, urging residents to examine their own practices, including the use of plastic bags and other hazardous materials.
“Before raising fingers at tourists, it is our responsibility to protect the environment. We need to look at ourselves,” he said. (JKNS)
