Srinagar: Syed Farooq Ahmad Gillani, IFS (Retd), former Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and President of The Nature Alliance (TNA), Sunday met M.Y. Tarigami, Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, at his residence in H1 Gupkar, Srinagar.
The meeting focused on the pressing environmental challenges facing Jammu & Kashmir, including climate change, degradation of urban water bodies, and the need for stronger conservation measures.
Drawing from his decades-long experience in forestry and conservation, Mr. Gillani underscored the importance of a proactive and inclusive environmental policy framework, involving all stakeholders in planning and implementation. He stressed that without robust environmental monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, developmental activities risk causing irreversible ecological damage.
A major part of the discussion revolved around the critical state of Srinagar’s urban water bodies, particularly Anchar Lake, Khushalsar, and Gilsar, which continue to suffer from unchecked pollution and encroachments. Mr. Gillani called for an immediate intervention and the formulation of a comprehensive conservation and restoration plan to revive these ecosystems and preserve the Valley’s natural heritage.
The TNA President also highlighted the potential of the Green J&K Drive as a long-term afforestation initiative and advocated for community-based conservation models to build climate resilience and restore ecological balance in degraded landscapes.
Responding to the concerns, Mr. Tarigami appreciated Mr. Gillani’s consistent environmental advocacy and assured that the House Committee on Environment will pursue these critical issues with the urgency they deserve. He affirmed the committee’s commitment to pushing for sustainable and ecologically sound development practices across the Union Territory.
