SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para on Monday stressed the need for periodic environmental assessments of all activities undertaken in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Legislative Assembly Budget Session 2025, Para, said, “Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an unprecedented level of soil, sand, and stone mining in recent years, driven by a powerful mafia.”
“Due to large-scale mining and development projects, extensive destruction is occurring in JK, particularly in the ecologically fragile Kashmir region,” he added.
Para said that Jammu and Kashmir’s delicate ecology is already under strain, citing the recent dry winter spell that has significantly lowered the water table.
“We have asked the government whether it conducts environmental assessments of projects such as roads, railways, and tunnels to measure their impact,“ he said.
He warned of future environmental crises, stating, “We have sought an explanation from the environment minister regarding the assessment of all ongoing projects. These so-called development initiatives are causing large-scale destruction of our natural resources and environment.”
Para also emphasised the need to regulate pilgrim and tourist footfall in Jammu and Kashmir to protect its glaciers and ecology.
“The Yatra in Kashmir can only be sustained if there is water, ice, and glaciers,” he explained.
He further remarked, “Our brooks, wells, and streams are drying up. The Jhelum River is witnessing rampant sand mining. A mafia is extracting our resources unchecked. There must be an environmental assessment of everything happening in the name of development.“—(KNO)
