Environment Committee calls for a well-knit approach to tackle the issue of environment SRINAGAR, AUGUST 01: The Environment Committee of State Legislative Council has called for a coordinated approach to tackle the issue of environment in the State. The Committee opined that environment is the biggest challenge before the nation at present, and it needs to be dealt with the serious efforts of various stakeholders of the society to make this earth a beautiful place to live for all. The Committee which met here today under the chairmanship of Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri) to discuss the issues related to the preservation of environment in the State. The topic of today’s meeting was how to sustain the natural resources like forests, crops and water bodies in State in view of global warming which has greater impact on our day-to-day life and agriculture production. Legislators, Mr. Vijay Bakaya, Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah, MuzaffarParray and Mr. Naresh Kumar Gupta were present in the meeting. The participants put forth their views on the subject and suggested measures to protect the environment. Most of the Members, officers laid stress for launching a vigorous awareness campaign through different mediums to educate the common man about the importance of the environment in our day-to-day life. Unless, the awareness is not created amongst all, the issue cannot be resolved. They called for active participation of various stakeholders like educational institutions, social, religious organizations, PRIs, print/electric media and experts for helping in long run measures to protect the environment. Dr. Veeri highlighted implications of climate change vis-à-vis on agriculture sector. He said the indicators of agriculture production show a substantial decline from 1970-71 when it was 57 per cent to SGDP and 32 per cent in 2000-01 and ultimately slipped to 20 per cent in 2012-13. During the past over two decades, State has lost 10,000 hectares of prime agriculture land in Kashmir due to conversion into commercial/residential and non-agricultural activities. He said only 8 per cent of geographic area is eligible for agriculture activities in J&K and out of which only 30 per cent of it has been taped for such activities. Out of this, only 30 per cent land is irrigated and rest 54 per cent is rain fed. He sought long term measures to protect the agricultural land to enhance the productivity. Commissioner/Secretary Agriculture, Dr. Asgar Samoon gave a power point presentation about the steps taken for stabilization of Agri & Agro based activates in the State. He elaborated on the measures initiated to sustain the agriculture in the changing climatic conditions. Commissioner Secretary, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Dr. PawanKotwal also presented his view point on the subject. He stressed the need for inter-department coordination and a common Action Plan to deal with sensitive issue. Chief of Forest Force and Chairman Pollution Control Board, Mr. Vinod Ranjan, Vice Chairman, LAWDA, Director, Remote Sensing and Environment, HOD Forest Force and Chairman PCB, Executive Directors of various departments, HOD’s and representatives of department of Environment, University of Jammu and Kashmir, SKUAST-K, SKUAST-J and galaxy of other research scholars participated in the brain storming meeting on State Action Plan on climate change in J&K besides Deputy Secretary, Legislative Council, Mr Ishfaq Ahmed Wani and officers and officials of Council Secretariat attended the meeting.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 14:11:58 +0000