Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday issued a strong warning over the rapid degradation of water bodies across Jammu and Kashmir, stating that unchecked urbanisation, mounting land pressures, and climate change had together triggered an alarming ecological decline.

His remarks come in the backdrop of a recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which has revealed that 315 water bodies and lakes have disappeared, while another 205 shrunk significantly in J&K, figures that underline the scale of environmental stress facing the region.

Responding to the report, CM Omar said the crisis was neither new nor surprising, asserting that people across J&K were already witnessing these changes in their daily lives.

“I am amazed that this subject has become a topic of discussion because CAG has talked about it. We see it. We are living this. Whether it is our water bodies in and around Srinagar, or our water bodies in rural areas, either those water bodies have ceased to exist or they have shrunk. They have shrunk because of urbanisation. They have shrunk because of pressures on the land. They have also shrunk because of climate change. So while some of these things are within our control, some of these things are a fallout of a wider problem,” he said.

The CM emphasised that while factors like global climate change might be beyond immediate local control, a significant portion of the damage was directly linked to human activity, including unplanned urban expansion, encroachments, and changing land-use patterns.

Stressing the urgency of corrective measures, he called for a shift in both governance approach and public behaviour, making it clear that environmental protection cannot be left to the government alone.

“But yes, I think we need to be more conscious of the environmental damage that we are doing. And this is not just the responsibility of the government. I think it will take a collective responsibility of all of us who live in Jammu and Kashmir. Is this the sort of Jammu and Kashmir that we want to hand over to our children and grandchildren? And if it isn’t, then what can we do to be more conscious of how we protect the environment?” CM Omar said.

In a pointed remark on lifestyle choices contributing to environmental stress, he flagged the widespread use of plastic bags, questioning the lack of individual responsibility.

“Why don’t we use less plastic bags? I mean, is it going to take a government order banning the use of plastic bags completely for us to wake up to this problem? As a concerned citizen, what stops me from carrying a bag from my house to bring my shopping home in? Why do I have to take a plastic bag from the shops? But if what it takes is the government to be more heavy-handed, then unfortunately, that is the direction in which we are heading. But I hope before that, as a society, we can do collectively something to address this problem,” the CM said.

His remarks assume significance amid growing concerns among environmentalists over the degradation of key wetlands and water bodies in Kashmir, many of which are facing encroachment, pollution, and shrinking catchment areas due to rapid urbanisation.

On the legislative front, CM Omar also raised questions regarding the Women’s Reservation Bill, asking the Centre to clarify why a new bill was introduced when a similar legislation had already been passed earlier by Parliament.

“First and foremost, it needs to be explained why a new bill is needed for a bill that had already been passed. Nobody is answering that question. We are all for women’s reservation. But, if I understand correctly, we had been told that women’s reservation would follow the Census and the delimitation. What has changed?” he said.

The CM pointed out that the earlier bill was introduced by the same government, suggesting that there should be transparency regarding the shift in approach and the reasons behind revisiting the legislation.

Touching upon local governance, he said that elections to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Jammu and Kashmir would be held at an “appropriate” time, without committing to a specific schedule.

In his remarks on international developments, CM Omar spoke about the ongoing ceasefire between the United States and Iran, urging Washington to play a more responsible role in ensuring that the truce holds.

“The US should exert some control over Israel. The way they are conducting indiscriminate bombing campaigns in Lebanon and the manner in which innocent lives are being taken there, how can a ceasefire possibly hold?” he said.

The CM cautioned that any breakdown of the ceasefire would be attributable to Israel’s actions, rather than Iran or other stakeholders.

“The ceasefire is a welcome initiative, but if it fails, the blame will be solely on Israel. It will not be the fault of Iran or anyone else. So, the US should exert some restraint over Israel,” he said.

Referring to recent statements by US President Donald Trump, CM Omar criticised the inconsistency and tone of his remarks.

“He (Trump) says one thing in the morning, another thing in the afternoon and the third one in the evening. The language that he uses is unbecoming of anyone, let alone the US president. He ought to remind himself that he holds the office of the US president,” he said.

The CM also remarked on the broader strategic narrative emerging after the ceasefire, questioning claims of success and asking what tangible outcomes had been achieved.

“It was not Iran that initiated this war. The war was thrust upon Iran. First, tell us what was the actual objective of this war? After the ceasefire, the US has claimed a monumental victory, citing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. But, the Strait was already open prior to the war and it was accessible to everyone, free of charge,” he said.

CM Omar said that Iran, in the aftermath of the conflict, had imposed a toll on passage through the Strait, raising questions about the real gains of the war.

He said after the war, Iran seized the opportunity to impose a toll tax for passing through the Strait. So, what exactly has been achieved?

On the diplomatic front, the CM acknowledged Pakistan’s role in facilitating the ceasefire, stating that it had succeeded where others had not, while also reflecting on India’s position.

“I won’t go into whether it was a failure or a success, but we have to accept that Pakistan did what others couldn’t. I personally believe that our relations with Israel have become a bit of a weakness. Because, as I said, only Israel wants this war,” he said.

CM Omar said that India’s close ties with Israel may have constrained its ability to play a mediatory role in the conflict.

“I think, and this is my personal opinion, that we couldn’t play this role because our relations with Israel are too close. Now, the ceasefire that happened was good; if Pakistan played a role in it, then so be it,” he said.

Srinagar, Apr 09: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested a Panchayat Secretary in Kulgam after catching him red-handed while accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe for clearing MGNREGA labour bills, officials said.

According to a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said the J&K Anti Corrupting Bureau received a written complaint to the effect that Panchayat Secretary (VLW) of Block Devsar Kulgam namely Shiekh Zada Irfan S/O Shiekh AB Rashid R/O Muniwara District Anantnag is demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant for clearing of Bills on account of labour charges of MGNREGA works carried out by him, which was negotiated and finally settled at Rs 5000.

He said the complainant chose not to pay bribe and instead approached P/S Anti Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the said Panchayat Secretary (VLW) as envisaged under law.

“On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted which confirmed the demand by the said Govt. employee and accordingly Case FIR No. 04/2026 u/s 7 of P/C Act 1988 read with amendment Act-2018 was registered in PS ACB Anantnag and investigation was taken up,” said the spokesperson.

He said, during the course of investigation a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and caught the said Govt. employee red handed while demanding and accepting bribe. He was arrested on spot and bribe amount was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap team.

“Subsequently, search of residential house of the accused Govt. employee was carried out in presence of Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses. Further investigation of the instant case is going on,” said the spokesperson.

Jammu, April 09: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged alarming degradation of lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, revealing that 518 out of 697 natural lakes — over 74 per cent — in the Union territory have either disappeared or decreased in size since 1967, leading to significant ecological imbalance and loss of biodiversity.

As per the CAG report on the conservation of lakes in Union territory for the year ended March 31, 2024, out of the total 697 lakes with a total area of 28,990 hectares, as many as 315 lakes covering 1,537.07 hectares have disappeared, while the area of 203 lakes shrank by 1,314.19 hectares. “There was total decrease and disappearance of area of 2,851.26 hectares in 518 lakes,” the report stated.

The CAG strongly recommended a series of measures for effective conservation and management of lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the need for a structured and time-bound approach.

It said this large-scale shrinkage has resulted in loss of flora and fauna, disruption of ecological services, and adverse impacts on water, food and biodiversity.

It also said the reduction in lake area has contributed to climate insecurity and was one of the factors behind the devastating Jammu and Kashmir floods in September 2014, highlighting that lakes act as natural flood buffers.

Jammu and Kashmir, endowed with 697 natural lakes spread across 20 districts in two divisions, holds immense ecological and socio-economic significance, it said. These include 185 major lakes larger than five hectares, such as the Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, along with several other prominent water bodies.

The audit report revealed that 150 lakes recorded an increase in area by 538.22 hectares, while 29 lakes remained unchanged. However, it pointed out that the reasons behind the increase in lake areas were neither analysed nor monitored by the departments concerned.

Of the disappeared lakes, 80 fell under the jurisdiction of the forest department, while 235 were under the revenue and agriculture departments.

Among the 203 lakes that recorded shrinkage, 63 have lost more than 50 per cent of their area, putting them at high risk of extinction, it added.

The CAG attributed the disappearance and degradation of lakes primarily to changes in land use within lake bodies and their catchment areas, along with deforestation, climate change and unregulated human activities.

The audit, which covered 63 sampled lakes accounting for 87 per cent of the total lake area, used satellite imagery, remote sensing data and field verification to assess spatio-temporal changes. It found that some lakes had nearly dried up, while others such as Khushal Sar and Anchar were undergoing severe degradation.

“A questionnaire-based survey on 63 test-checked lakes was also undertaken by audit. Further, audit utilised the satellite images of the lakes provided by ecology, environment and remote sensing department (EE&RSD) to analyse the spatio-temporal changes in lakes”, it said.

The report also highlighted institutional and administrative gaps, noting that despite being mandated since 1989, the forest department had not prepared comprehensive conservation and management plans for 255 lakes under its jurisdiction. The report cited lack of technical manpower and infrastructure as key constraints.

The CAG observed that conservation efforts were limited to only six lakes — Dal, Wular, Hokersar, Manasbal, Surinsar and Mansar — while no structured programmes existed for the remaining 691 lakes.

It further pointed out the absence of a dedicated legal framework for lake conservation, with only fragmented provisions existing under various laws and policies. “Multiple agencies handling lake management have also led to lack of coordination and accountability,” the report said.

Recommending urgent action, the CAG called for enactment of a comprehensive law for conservation and management of lakes and the establishment of a centralised, specialised authority to ensure coordinated efforts.

It also stressed the need for enhanced funding, scientific planning, and deployment of experts including hydrologists, ecologists and GIS specialists.

The report suggested strengthening sewage treatment, preventing encroachments, regulating construction around lakes, and launching public awareness campaigns to safeguard these critical ecosystems.

Emphasising that lake conservation is a scientific and multi-disciplinary process, the CAG urged the government to adopt a holistic approach to restore and preserve the fragile lake ecosystems in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Comptroller and Auditor General has strongly recommended a series of measures for effective conservation and management of lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the need for a structured and time-bound approach.

It said that Generic lake management activities such as survey, categorisation, sewage treatment, flushing etc need to be planned and carried out in a time-bound manner.

CAG recommended that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir increase its budgetary allocation for the conservation and management of lakes, highlighting the need for greater financial commitment to protect these vital natural resources.

Budgam, Apr 8: A meeting of the District Level Implementation Committee (DLIC) for Mission YUVA was today chaired by the Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, at the Conference Hall of the DC Office Complex.

The meeting focused on accelerating youth entrepreneurship and reviewing the progress of cases submitted under the mission.

During the meeting, 623 cases, duly verified by the Small Business Development Units (SBDUs), were placed before the committee for consideration. After thorough evaluation, all 623 cases were approved for financial assistance, capacity building, and handholding support under Mission YUVA.

The approved cases include entrepreneurial ventures, ranging from traditional crafts such as shawl embroidery, sozni, Aari work, tailoring and cutting units, carpentry and joinery workshops, as well as modern and service-oriented businesses including load carriers, dairy units, repair shops, stationery/printing units, food businesses, retail stores, packaging units, and other micro-enterprise activities.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC said that Mission YUVA is a transformative initiative aimed at empowering young men and women by enabling them to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. He emphasised that the goal is not only to provide financial support but to create a sustainable ecosystem where youth have access to training, market linkages, guidance, and long-term mentorship.

“Mission YUVA is our investment in the potential, resilience, and creativity of Budgam’s youth. Every project approved today represents a new livelihood opportunity, a family strengthened, and a step towards a more self-reliant district,” he noted.

The DC directed all concerned departments, banks and implementing agencies to ensure time-bound sanctioning, hassle-free disbursement, and continuous mentoring of the approved cases.  He instructed that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) must be completed without delay and emphasised that no application should remain pending unnecessarily at any level. Accountability, transparency, and efficiency must be maintained throughout the process, he added.

He further said that the success of Mission YUVA will be determined by how many of these ventures become viable and sustainable in the long run.

He stressed the need for regular monitoring, skill development programmes, and facilitating market access so that young entrepreneurs can scale their businesses effectively.

The DC further said that Mission YUVA holds special significance for underprivileged and marginalised youth, who will be given priority support to improve their socio-economic conditions. He affirmed that Budgam is emerging as a hub of youth-led enterprises where traditional craftsmanship blends with modern entrepreneurship.

The meeting was attended by General Manager DIC, Budgam; JD planning Budgam; Deputy Director Employment, DD NABARD, LDM Budgam, District Nodal Officer, representatives from JKEDI, and other concerned officers.