by Abid Ahmad Shah 22 August 2021
Earth is the only habitable planet of the entire solar system, with a man as the central agent of the whole matrix. Gone are the days when nature was in a state of equilibrium. Man has, over the period of time, exploited nature to such an extent that now, there is only a half-state of sorrow. The world of today is bereft of environmental order, and there is a looming environmental crisis. The increasing population of the world puts unprecedented pressure on environmental resources. It ultimately causes the scarcity of resources, generating a lot of waste which pollutes our environment day in and day out.
The anthropogenic threats to the environment on a massive scale have radically altered our planet, Earth, including the lives of many species of plants and animals. Man is part and parcel of the biosphere and cannot turn a blind eye towards the contemporary ecological crisis and responsibilities concerning the protection of nature. Environmental degradation is the most hazardous event of the current century attributed to misuse of the natural environment. The crisis has taken a major sway over both developed and developing countries. The developed countries dump effluents into the environment polluting the earth. Kashmir, which is glorified for its beauty, is getting victimised due to the environmental problems of the current times.
God has enormously blessed the valley of Kashmir with its scenic beauty and really stunning green environs. But, unfortunately, the indifferent attitude of the people towards the environment has ultimately caused ramifications which bode ill to the man itself.
Over the world, Climate change is the buzzword of the recent century which has assumed unimagined proportions, and all the nation-states of the globe are confronting this problem. The untimely downpours in summer, warm climate in winters, wind storms, hail storms in spring, etc., are the problems of the current times and are attributed to changes in the environment over the period of time.
The dreadful flash floods of 2014, which caused heavy damage to life, property, and the overall environment in Kashmir, are grim reminders of ecological change and imbalance. The recurring episodes of forest fires during winters at some places of Kashmir destroy various species of plants and vegetative cover, which is a cause of concern. The timely intervention of the forest department and youth of the respective areas stops further damage. In some pockets of the valley, the winter snowfall has severely damaged the apple trees in orchards and causes mayhem to the fruit growers, rendering trees in a harmful state.
Our environment is on the brink of a disaster, waiting for a feasible time to happen. The pollution of air, water, and land is in a state of continuity and ensue change with the currents of time. This has paved the way for a bundle of problems. Pollution is the horrific ecological crisis of the current times. Air, water, and land in the past are said to have been in a state of purity, virginity, and devoid of human disturbance. But, over the period of time, the situation is caught in a reverse way. The ecological imbalance caused due to the development of transport, machines, infrastructure, paraphernalia, etc., in general, and science and technological prowess, in particular, may prove disastrous for humanity in the long run.
Environmental degradation in terms of deterioration in the quality of air, water, and soil surfaces causes many biological manifestations, which particularly affect human health and well-being. The degradation in water quality gives rise to several diseases like cholera, jaundice, etc. The increasing ratio of light, small, medium, and heavy vehicles is day by day polluting the quality of the environment in J&K. Soil erosions caused as a result of frequent rains have resulted in the siltation of the water bodies, like river Jhelum(Veth) which complicate the issues in times of rainfalls and leads to the flooding of the adjoining areas (say floods of 2014). Unfortunately, the environment of JK has been affected and destroyed in the last century due to the uncontrolled cutting down of the forest trees, which has altered the patterns of weather and climate and increased the massive destruction of the environment.
Unfortunately, people in Kashmir have turned a blind eye towards the environment and ignore all ethical standards vis-a-vis the environment. The water bodies have become the ultimate target for the disposal of the wastes, whether house-generated or otherwise. Every household empties the sewerage in the adjoining streams. The space of the water bodies has been gravely shrunken, and the waste lies littered. Even at some places, the household waste clogs the flow of water, which causes it’s way-out on the roads and hampers the movement of the commuters.
Also, some people have erected illegal structures over the water bodies and downsized them. The major implications of excessive deforestation are soil degradation, excessive floods, dam siltations, alterations in climatic patterns, and ultimately drive towards environmental bankruptcy. The pollution of water bodies in J&K has reached a point of crisis, rendering them cesspools due to solid waste, wrong drainage patterns, sewerage, etc. This has degraded the quality of these water bodies, rendering them ineffectual for drinking and usage of water and caused the unwanted growth of weeds and plants in them, ultimately shrinking their space with time. Dal Lake, Anchar Lake, etc., are the glaring and live examples of our environmental problems.
The people of the state have got a prominent role in the conservation of the environment. The state’s government also has the responsibility of conserving the environment, which can fully blow into a crisis if not tackled on time. Otherwise, time will not be far when there will be only pangs of guilt and sorrow, and the future generations will curse us for the full-fledged eco-crisis they would face in the future.
Administration can play a prominent role in generating awareness and promoting environmental consciousness among the masses with print, electronic and overall mass media. The educational institutions can be used as instruments of environmental consciousness. Besides, the water bodies and other polluted places can be cleaned using manpower and infrastructure nearby. The administration needs to create awareness for environmental preservation, protection, conservation, and mitigation afterward.
Today, when we live in the post-truth era, our morale is slowly ebbing to zero. This place is to others as it is to human beings. Man cannot destroy the other forms of life and claim hegemony over the environment sans ethical and moral conduct without regard for the other living organisms. After analysing the true picture of the land and people in recent times, what comes to the fore is a non-compatible attitude of a man concerning the surrounding environment. Man has destroyed the environment and is paying back a heavy price. If a similar situation exists in the near future, human civilization will face disasters everywhere. There is an urgent requirement for appropriate measures to tackle the crisis. Searching into the past through the medium of oral or written histories of Kashmir, the vivid picture is that of purity and semblance of nature.
It is our foremost duty to conserve and preserve the environment. The need of the hour is to make people sensibly aware through environmental education programmes. A fair amount of know-how about the burning environmental issues is vital for protecting the healthy environment. Being part and parcel of the ecosystem, man has a crucial responsibility to protect the environment. However, responsibility is subservient to ethical motivation, which can be generated at various levels of society.
Again, the role of multiple players, viz, government, NGOs, and everybody else, is necessary.NGOs can actively engage the general public and students through programmes and activities. This will entail a plethora of research and dissemination of knowledge on various issues confronting the environment. The survival of human beings is largely dependent upon the environmental balance. No nation-state can remain in isolation because the problem is pan-global without any consideration for limits. Thus, it requires a global solution. The development of man should be in harmony with nature. This way, we can envision an environmentally sound place to dwell upon as previously eulogized by the Mughal emperor of India, Jahangir, as heaven on the earth.