The rapid felling of trees, deforestation, shrinking wetland and ecological degradation are creating conditions for another massive flood in Jammu and Kashmir, claim experts on biodiversity.
The experts said that playing with ecology will not only affect one particular region but put the life of entire mankind in danger.
They were speaking at National Media Workshop on Biodiversity organised by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) in which more than 20 journalists from all over the country participated.
“Massive construction activities took place in Himalayan region. We destroyed its ecological balance, which resulted in a massive flood. Water even inundated Lal Chowk in Srinagar city,” said Fayaz Ahmed Khudsar, Scientist in-charge, Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Delhi.
He was referring to September 2014 floods in Kashmir which drowned Srinagar city and areas of South and North Kashmir.
“Kashmir is known for its lakes and ponds but for our petty interests we filled ponds and polluted lakes. The deforestation is still going on a massive scale, wetlands have been encroached. And if this continues, state will face another flood,” he said.
B. Meenakumari, Chairperson of NBA stressed the need for engaging with media to create awareness about biodiversity. She said it was critical to involve people in the conservation of biodiversity, and using media as a tool was one way to do this.
Delivering keynote address Director General, IIMC K G Suresh said biodiversity preservation should become part of the political manifestos in the upcoming 2019 general elections. “At present, we deal with environment issues at a superficial level only,” he said. “We should end the exploitation of natural resources in the name of tourism. We also need to deal with man-animal conflict”.