There are big and ambitious campaigns launched by the Government for the conservation of ecology in J&K, particularly in Kashmir, on one side, and on the other side, there are people who get patronage from the authorities—in one way or the other—to wreak havoc wherever they want. The case in point being of those blue-eyed “business people” who have set up cement factories in various areas of Kashmir and know nothing but money and with that in hand, they have been taking the rule of law for a ride. One wonders and wants to know what is the use of starting green initiatives when those who are literally decimating the ecology every day have been given a free hand to do so.
In the case of these cement factories—which are situated in areas that are ecologically sensitive and should have been otherwise taken care of—the regulatory bodies such as the Pollution Control Board have been caught napping. These regulatory bodies do a lot but all of that remains on papers and nothing of it translates into action. Nothing has either gone to the National Green Tribunal concerning gross violations of these cement factories operating in J&K, because all the activists and civil society members—who act as pressure groups—are these days busy “saving” the dying water bodies, and nobody, not even the authorities, is paying any attention to the basic problem at hand.
The enormity of the destruction which these cement factories are causing can be gauged by analyzing the vegetation of these areas. The pollution level remains high, impeding the growth of the vegetation and impacts the environment on a greater level which seems not to appear clear enough for the authorities to really act. Due to the criminal attitude of these people who are putting the entire ecology of Kashmir at risk, are not only endangering the lives of people but are also equally jeopardizing the safety of the security forces guarding strategic borders here. In the last some time, there have been frequent flash floods in Kashmir—caused due to the extreme degradation of the ecology to which these cement factories have been contributing greatly—humanity, as well as the security grid, has paid heavily, which needs to be noted well.
Coming to the prevention part of the problem staring us right in the face, the Government needs to come down heavily on these factories that are openly violating the norms under the nose of the concerned authorities. They are risking, depleting the ecology—something that cannot be denied and side-lined—and should be made to toe the line by making them pay.
Necessary action in this regard is long due and should now follow without any further delay even if that means shutting them down because there cannot be any compromise when it comes to the conservation of the ecology in Kashmir. If the Government wants to see its green campaigns making an impact then there is a need for going after the main culprits, now!
