Amar Singh College holds seminar on “Sustainable Srinagar”, EPG Convenor delivers valedictory address

Srinagar: A one-day national conference titled “Sustainable Srinagar: Building Resilience in Fragile Ecosystems” was held at Amar Singh College, Srinagar, today. The event, organised under the umbrella of Mission Viksit Bharat 2047, was sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Government of India, and witnessed participation from students, academics, and policymakers. Discussions at the conference centred on sustainable urban planning, environmental resilience, and innovative development models for the city of Srinagar.

Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, Convenor of the Environmental Policy Group (EPG) and General Secretary, was the Chief Guest at the valedictory session. In his address delivered in Kashmiri, Bakshi spoke on “Srinagar’s Ecology in the Regional Context of Kashmir”, emphasising the urgent need for ecologically sensitive planning in the Valley. The conference also featured a keynote address by Prof. Manoj Kumar Teotia of the Department of Sociology, CRRID Chandigarh, who advocated for protecting Srinagar’s ecosystems while embracing urban innovation.

The event was graced by dignitaries including Shri Shantmanu (IAS), Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, J&K Government; Prof. Sheikh Ajaz Bashir, Director Colleges, Higher Education Department, J&K; Prof. Seema Naaz, Nodal Principal, Kashmir Division Colleges; Prof. Aijaz Ahmad Hakak, Principal, Amar Singh College; Prof. Wilayat Hussain Rizvi, Registrar, Cluster University Srinagar; and Prof. Khurshid Ahmad Mir, Controller, Cluster University.

The conference was convened by Dr. Shabnum Ara, Head, Department of Sociology, Amar Singh College. The event concluded with a vote of thanks and a shared commitment among participants to prioritise ecological sustainability in Srinagar’s future development trajectory.