Is the Conflict Over Kashmir Overssadowing Environmental Degradation?

The gory murder of an environmental activist in Kashmir by an alleged cabal involving the Army, timber smugglers and some Forest department functionaries is a metaphor for contemporary Kashmir. The conflict has spawned a cottage industry of or a cabal of vested interests that are making hay out of the conflict. In the process are lost precious lives like the one in contention here. The larger point-with due respect to the brave soul that resisted this plunder- is that irreparable damage is done to the environment in Kashmir. And with the focus only on the dimensions on the conflict, the very important environmental aspect is ignored. This is something that Kashmiri’s can ignore at their peril. There is, to state the obvious an indelible and organic relationship between the natural environment and living conditions. If the current state of affairs if allowed to continue, harrowing conditions of life may accrue. Life may then be not as tolerable as it is for future generations.

What can be done about the environmental degradation occurring in Kashmir? First and foremost, a vigorous campaign to make people aware of the consequences of environmental degradation needs to be launched. It is a shame that the non governmental organizations (NGO’s) operating in or concerned about Kashmir only have a very narrow focus. That is, on the ramifications of the conflict and the victims that it exacts. These organizations with the funding they receive should expand their agenda and focus also on the environmental degradation the conflict has spawned. Naming an shaming works in that part of the world too and if NGO’s with clout can take recourse to this, a degree of restraint by the environmental criminals is to be expected.

Complementing this approach may be educating the people about the perils of environmental degradation and how it can affect their lives and progeny. This may help in creating bottoms up pressure and make the environmental criminals cringe and make their lives difficult.However, in the final scheme of things, the onus of protecting and enhancing the natural environment of Kashmir may lie with the government of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the author’s contention that nothing beats state power and its bearing on issues than the state and its various apparatii. As such, a clear cut message sent out by the state government to the perpetrators and potential perpetrators underlined by vigorous threats of action against them may be the best option available. A combined effort by the state and the NGO’s complemented by people power on this issue area may lead to such pressures on environmental criminals that they cease to ‘tread on grounds where even the devil fears’ so to speak.

The alternatives are too bleak to countenance. Gradual environmental degradation coupled with global warming may lead to a situation that no one wants. This would be a bleak situation where Kashmir will gradually lose its forest cover. Bizarre weather and climactic patterns would follow. And in the process, Kashmir would lose much of its pristine beauty and would become a shell. This is a situation that , to repeat, no one wants.

Now a word on our environmental martyr: his death should not go in vain. And it is pertinent and important that criminals complicit in his murder be brought to the book. This is important for two major reasons. One, it is in the interests of justice important for the departed soul’s family to have and attain closure. Second, bringing the criminal is important in terms of setting a precedent. If his murder goes the way of other unexplained murders in Kashmir, environmental criminals and other assorted criminals may feel emboldened and audacious to commit crimes with impunity in the future. However, if his murderers and those behind the murder are brought to book, then this may act as a deterrent and prevent such ungainly acts in the future.

The onus again is on the government to demonstrate its resolve and commitment to protect the environment in Kashmir and send a strong message to criminals. It should create multi stakeholders as identified in this piece and bring them on board to stop something that has a crucial bearing on the future of Kashmir. In the governments’ scheme, the focus on the environment should be part of its good governance. A concerted effort to halt the environmental degradation now would mean damage limitation and conserving whatever is left. It is about time to be serious on this issue. We owe it to our future generations.