The most extensively used words these days are the “ClimateChange”! The weather in most parts of the world has been behaving in a strangeway. Some places are getting extremely hot while as in some places the weatheris colder for this part of the year. In some of the Arab countries thetemperatures have crossed sixty degrees Celsius while as in some parts ofEurope it is getting cooler than usual. In our sub-continent in many places thetemperature has crossed fifty degrees Celsius. There are many factors for thisdrastic climate change but the most talked about is emission of harmful gasesfrom automobiles, power plants and other similar industries. Apart from thefact of an astronomical increase in the emissions, the other major contributingfactor has been the fast vanishing green cover all over the world due to socalled “Development”! The green cover had been absorbing these emissionsespecially Carbon Dioxide and purifying the air. The absorption of carbonDioxide enriches the oxygen content in the air. It has been estimated that theconversion of a part of the Sahara desert in Africa can absorb millions of tonsof carbon dioxide and purify the air. The Chinese have already gone ahead withconverting some of their desert areas into green belts. While as these peopleso conscious about their environment are trying to convert deserts into greenbelts, we, on the other hand are converting our green belts into barren landwhich may ultimately turn into deserts!
We have virtually massacred our lush green forests in manyplaces. According to forest policy of India 33% of the total area of everyregion in plains and 60% in the Himalayan region must be under forest butunfortunately the forest area in India is not more than 22%. Similarly forestarea of Jammu and Kashmir is not more than 20% of the total area of the state.However, according to Satellite it is not more than 10% of total area of Jammuand Kashmir. Over 14,000 hectares of forest land has been encroached upon bythe people in the J&K state as per 2010 survey. According to the record offorest department 9,496 hectares of forest land in the Jammu region and 4877hectares in Kashmir valley had been encroached with total forest area of 20,230km2. This area was largely distributed in the Kashmir valley and the Jammuregion. Leh and Kargil are mostly devoid of forest vegetation. Of the totalforest area in the state, 8128 km2 is in the Kashmir valley, and 12066 km2 inJammu, and 36 km2 in Ladakh region.
In addition to intentional deforestation by timbersmugglers, some government agencies and even people bordering the forests, thegreen belt has further been damaged by large scale conversion of agriculturalland for construction of private houses, residential colonies, and some stategovernment offices including one responsible for planned development of thestate! There are no two opinions that agriculture is the primary economicactivity in Kashmir. Almost 75% people are linked with agriculture in thevalley. In fact, in earlier times Kashmir was self-sufficient in food andvegetables but not now. The bulk of our food grains and vegetables are importedfrom outside. In addition, residential as well as commercial buildings havebeen constructed on agricultural land. These days a number of shoppingcomplexes, residential colonies and even government buildings are coming up onthe once agricultural land. The government departments responsible forprotecting the land use are totally silent or rather intentionally mum forcertain considerations, both political and monetary. Under the revenue rules apiece of agricultural land had to remain unproductive for at least for 40 yearsbefore it could be declared unusable for agriculture and put to some other use.This rule seems to have disappeared from the revenue department rule book! In2012, the State High Court had directed all Deputy Commissioners to strictlyensure the implementation of the Agricultural Act and the Land Revenue Act. Theconcerned Commissioners were directed to monitor implementation of thesedirections on the ground. Unfortunately nothing was done and the violations ofboth the acts continue unabated.
Incidentally, our ancestors left for us a land which wasdescribed by Mughal Emperors as the “Heaven on Earth”! They had said, “If thereis a heaven on Earth, it is this, it is this and it is this!” If Kashmir has tosurvive as a “Paradise on Earth”, then the green belt has to be saved. Thegovernment alone cannot do it. One has to have a strong and universal movementinvolving all the citizens to save Kashmir’s green belt. The movement has toinvolve the entire society regardless of political beliefs or affiliations. IfKashmir’s environment goes, it is immaterial whatever political or physical setup it has in future. The unusual weather being experienced is giving us awarning. If we do not heed the warning and act now, we are doomed! We would beunfortunately leaving a hell for our future generations!