JKCSF expresses serious concern over worsening water crisis, other issues in Gulmarg belt
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) and Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners United Front (JKPUF), under chairmanship of Abdul Qayoom Wani, expressed serious concerns over the worsening water crisis, ecological degradation, and shrinking employment opportunities in the Gulmarg-Tangmarg region.
According to Kashmir Media Service, they said the unregulated resource exploitation and faulty policies threaten both the environment and the livelihoods of local communities, and demanded immediate corrective measures to prevent irreversible damage.
They said this year’s severe water shortage should serve as an eye-opener. The excessive and unregulated diversion of water from Nallah Ferozpora has led to drinking water shortages for local villages, irrigation losses in Tangmarg and surrounding areas, etc.
The indiscriminate extraction of this vital water source must stop immediately, they said adding no additional pipelines should be installed, and existing diversions must be reassessed and regulated to restore water availability for the native population and local farmers.
The participants of the meeting said the road between Tangmarg and Gulmarg is an ecologically fragile corridor. They said movement of smoke-emitting diesel vehicles has significantly harmed the air quality and natural environment.
To protect the region and provide employment, we propose a complete ban on smoke-emitting vehicles on this route, subsidized electric vehicles for local youth, enabling them to run transport services.
The JKCSF and JKPUF demanded immediate action to ban further water extraction from Nallah Ferozpora and restore lost water flow, declare Tangmarg-Gulmarg road a ‘No-Smoke Zone’ and implement a subsidy scheme for local youth to operate electric vehicles, stop the use of harmful chemicals in snow clearance to protect forests and water resources, and adopt sustainable tourism policies to ensure long-term ecological and economic stability.
