Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Oct 14
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday called for development policies that balance economic growth with environmental protection, warning that unplanned construction and climate change were increasing pressure on the Himalayan ecosystem.
In a message to the valedictory session of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit, Sinha said protecting the Himalayas was a matter of national importance because the mountain range supports river systems, biodiversity and climate regulation.
The summit was organised jointly by the Integrated Mountain Initiative and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir).
Sinha said the discussions had addressed water resources, forests, land, biodiversity and climate change, as well as the concerns of communities dependent on the Himalayan environment.
He called for a comprehensive, science-based and people-centred approach to mountain development, arguing that economic progress achieved at the expense of ecological stability could not be considered sustainable.
The LG outlined four priorities for future action.
The first was science-based assessment of carrying capacity and zoning to guide land use and development. The second focused on climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster preparedness, including environmentally sensitive construction and community-based early warning systems that combine modern technology with traditional knowledge.
The third priority was to promote sustainable livelihoods through high-value horticulture, organic farming, modern sericulture, ecotourism and other green-economy activities, while encouraging young people and women to become entrepreneurs.
The fourth called for a zero-waste, circular mountain economy supported by better solid waste management, wastewater treatment and recycling in urban areas, villages and tourist destinations.
Sinha welcomed a draft policy prepared during the summit on ecological security, responsible tourism, disaster management and sustainable livelihoods.
He said further consultations could help turn the document into a practical policy and implementation framework.
The LG also called for greater integration of traditional environmental knowledge with modern science and technology, saying economic development and ecological conservation must advance together.
