Srinagar: A delegation from civil society group Kashmir Concern met M.Y. Tarigami, Chairman of the Legislative Committee on Environment, on Wednesday at his Gupkar residence in Srinagar.
The meeting, described by participants as both urgent and constructive, brought to the fore a series of proposals aimed at reversing the alarming ecological degradation across the Union Territory. The Kashmir Concern team was led by noted environmentalist and group chairman, Dr. Touseef Bhatt, whose sustained efforts in large-scale afforestation and ecological restoration have earned wide recognition in the region.
Dr. Bhatt was joined by Vice President Majid Khan, Secretary Organisation Azhar Hussain Tantray, Media Head Fahad Amin Khan, and Senior Member Syed Ajaz Kashani. The delegation outlined a detailed environmental status report, highlighting critical threats including rapid wetland loss, increasing water pollution in rivers and lakes, and the continued deforestation of Kashmir’s vital forest belts.
In his presentation, Dr. Bhatt emphasized the ecological and human costs of inaction. “The wetlands that purify our water and protect our biodiversity are disappearing. Our rivers and lakes are choking with pollutants. Forests that were once teeming with wildlife are being depleted at a dangerous pace,” he said.
Describing the meeting as a turning point, Dr. Bhatt remarked, “This is not just a policy discussion, but a call to conscience. The land that nurtures us is crying for care. We have a duty to act, not as individuals, but as a united force that reclaims the natural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir for future generations.”
Chairman M.Y. Tarigami, while appreciating the delegation’s initiative, stressed the importance of broad-based collaboration between civil society and lawmakers. “The collective effort is key to the success of our dream to conserve our pristine environment and make an impression on the people that they should also be stakeholders in preserving it,” he said.
Tarigami assured the group that their feedback and proposals would be given serious consideration in upcoming policy deliberations. “We will definitely take these important suggestions and feedback in our policy formulation and will also work in tandem with Kashmir Concern members in order to achieve our goals,” he added.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to establish a framework for regular engagement and collaboration between the Legislative Committee on Environment and Kashmir Concern. Both sides expressed optimism about building a long-term partnership to develop forward-looking environmental policies that could serve as a model for other environmentally fragile regions of India.
