Srinagar, June 25: Veteran statesman Dr Karan Singh on Wednesday voiced deep concern over the rapid degradation of Jammu and Kashmir’s environment, warning that the shrinking of lakes, disappearance of wetlands, and unchecked development posed a serious threat to the region’s ecological future.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on environmental protection organized by the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) J&K, Dr Singh said the region’s environmental condition had deteriorated dramatically over the decades.
“Our environment has deteriorated significantly. I remember that when I was a child, Dal Lake was completely full. Today, it is barely a third of its original size. Hokersar, Anchar, and the marshlands known as the ‘kidneys’ of Kashmir have almost disappeared. I have also heard that Wular Lake has become considerably weaker and diminished,” he said.
Calling the situation “dangerous,” Dr Singh welcomed GCC’s efforts to focus public attention on environmental issues and urged the media to continue highlighting ecological concerns. He said the challenges extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir to other Himalayan regions.
“I am deeply concerned about the environment—not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also in other Himalayan regions such as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh,” he said.
Reiterating his opposition to indiscriminate road expansion in fragile mountain ecosystems, Dr Singh said development models suitable for the plains could not be applied uniformly to the Himalayas.
“As I have said repeatedly, there is no need to widen every road into a four-lane highway. I even wrote to Mr. Gadkari, telling him that while he is doing excellent work building roads in the plains, the parameters for road construction in the Himalayas should be different,” he said.
Earlier, the GCC seminar brought together environmentalists, academics, civil society representatives and concerned citizens to deliberate on mounting ecological challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir. Participants expressed concern over growing water scarcity, declining ecological resilience and the increasing impacts of climate change.
Former J$K Government advisor Khursheed Ahmad Ganaie described environmental protection as central to the region’s identity and survival, warning that water scarcity had emerged as one of the most pressing challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir.
“The natural environment in Jammu and Kashmir is an extremely important issue because our identity, our survival, and our lives depend on it,” Ganaie said.
Recalling a time when water abundance was taken for granted, he said the situation had changed drastically.
“Nature has blessed us abundantly with glaciers, rivers, springs, streams, and water bodies. When we were young, there was never any discussion about whether water would become scarce. It was simply not something people worried about,” he said.
“Today, however, water scarcity is no longer confined to Srinagar or Jammu. It is affecting the entire Valley and the whole of Jammu and Kashmir. The reason is that our glaciers are melting, our water reservoirs are being encroached upon, and many of them are filling up with silt. This is creating a serious problem,” he added.
Noted environmental activist Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo highlighted the deteriorating condition of springs and forests while stressing the importance of environmental responsibility among citizens.
“Look at our springs—thousands of them are in distress. Look at our forests—they too need attention and protection. I keep saying that we must work with a sense of environmental ethics and responsibility,” Wangnoo said.
Referring to conservation efforts led by citizen groups, he said visible improvements had been achieved through sustained public participation.
“If you compare Nigeen Lake in 2000 with how it looks today, the difference is remarkable. Not a single polythene bag can be seen there now. People have developed a sense of responsibility,” he said.
Wangnoo said similar initiatives under Mission Ehsaas had transformed Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes and helped restore several springs in Ganderbal and Srinagar.
“We have also restored several springs in areas such as Ganderbal and Srinagar. People now drink water from those springs again because a water crisis is becoming a reality,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, Lieutenant General R.S. Reen (Retd.), former Director General of Quality Assurance, called for urgent action to halt environmental degradation and preserve the region’s ecological and cultural heritage.
Referring to wetlands lost to construction and urban expansion, Reen said, “Most of the wetlands are gone. And gone to just reckless construction.”
He appealed for intervention to stop what he described as “reckless encroachment” in and around Jammu, warning that the region could face repeat flood disasters if corrective measures were not taken.
Reen also raised concerns over ongoing works at the historic Mubarak Mandi complex, arguing that heritage conservation should not be sacrificed for infrastructure projects.
“It is just a smart city project executed by contractors the way they have been told to but there is no preservation of heritage,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Reen struck a note of optimism, saying Jammu and Kashmir still possessed the natural beauty, knowledge and public awareness needed to reverse environmental decline.
“We still have beauty in this paradise. We still have knowledge because I heard people speaking, I heard their concern. We still have the ability to change. If we can act Kashmir can become a model of sustained development,” he said.
Emphasising the need to balance tourism and ecology, he warned against short-term exploitation of natural resources and urged stakeholders to work together for future generations.
“Only if we save our glaciers, our rivers, our lakes, our forests and our mountains then only we will save ourselves,” Reen said.
He concluded with a call for collective action, saying, “Let us protect the valley before it is ruined. Rather I should say let us protect this entire state of J&K.”
The seminar ended with participants stressing the need for stronger environmental policies, sustainable development practices and greater public engagement to safeguard Jammu and Kashmir’s fragile ecosystems.
