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| Govt talks high, preservation of environment least priority | | World Environment Day | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 5: As world observed 'Environment Day' on Sunday, its preservation has been least priority of the Jammu and Kashmir government.
Every year, June 5th is observed as World Environment Day. This year United Nations (UN) had called for a worldwide campaign to take a strong action to curb the illegal trade of wildlife, that is threatening the biodiversity of our home planet. But here in Jammu and Kashmir, authorities have been only making tall claims about preserving the environment without taking concrete measures on the ground.
This could be gauged from the fact that there has been no provision for the preservation of environment in the recent budget. The legislators of all parties in the Legislative Council had expressed dismay over government not having kept any funds for the preservation of the environment.
While a revised master plan of the Housing and Urban Development Department says that there has been encroachments on hill slopes due to rapid urban growth leading to serious implications on the ecologically fragile areas in the state.
"Due to rapid urban growth, hill slopes as well as forests have been encroached with serious implications on the ecologically fragile areas in the state," the revised master plan for Jammu-2032 states.
"In Jammu city, the roadside drains also serve as storm-water drains. Because of steep slopes, the surface runoff quickly finds its way into the nearest drains through which it is discharged into larger drains and eventually into the Tawi River. By and large the existing drainage network is the same as the Road network."
It said the increase in population has placed tremendous pressure on its natural drainage system. "Although the old city Jammu has a sloping terrain, flooding takes place due to poor discharging capacity of the nallahs which also carry the sewage. The problem is further compounded due to choking of drains by garbage. Precipitation falling on the catchment finds its way under gravity to lower region and depressed portion where it causes water stagnation which causes breeding of mosquitoes resulting in health hazard to the community besides much inconvenience."
The draft says that there is a growing consciousness that urban planning should be self-financing with minimum burden on local authorities or the government.
Despite that officials said government was not taking any measures for the preservation of the fragile environment of the state. "They only talk high but do nothing on the ground," the official said of environment department said.
While Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology, Ch. Lal Singh on Sundaymade tall claims of preserving of the environment.
Speaking at a function at Zabarwan Park here, Ch. Singh said that the forest department officials should take oath to curb the illegal trade of wildlife across the State. |
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