Suhail Bhat
Srinagar Feb 5: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has prepared a draft State Action Plan on Climate Change and Clean Air Programme and placed it before the Executive Committee for consideration, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26.
The Survey states that the Draft State Action Plan on Climate Change has been prepared and is currently undergoing data re-verification with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) as per the decision of the Executive Committee. It adds that both the climate and clean air action plans were formulated through interdepartmental consultations.
As per the Survey, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee has notified a third-party certification framework for environmental data to streamline consent and compliance processes for industries and development projects.
The Economic Survey says the UT is implementing a range of flagship schemes to promote afforestation, forest conservation, and ecological sustainability. These include the Green Jammu and Kashmir Drive, the One Beat Guard-One Village Programme, Har Gaon Hariyali, Low-Cost Greening, Nagar Van Yojana, the Green India Mission and a State Action Plan on Forest Fire.
The programmes aim to bring nearly two-thirds of the UT’s geographical area under green cover while conserving wildlife and promoting biodiversity, the survey says. It adds that scientific plantation practices are being adopted to mitigate climate change, reduce poverty, empower local communities and ensure soil and water conservation.
The Survey notes that in 2022 the Government notified the Jammu and Kashmir Policy for Sustainable Collection and Utilisation of Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) to improve livelihood opportunities for forest-dependent communities. Under the policy, the auction system has been discontinued, and Panchayat-level Biodiversity Management Committees have been empowered to collect NTFPs, generating Rs 49.21 lakh in revenue for local committees. The Forest Department has registered 171 NTFP depots, with a recorded trade value of Rs 12.05 crore, benefiting 1,355 families over the past three years.
Future priorities include restoring degraded forests through Secured Assisted Natural Regeneration, enhancing forest density, and preventing encroachments through systematic surveys and renewal of boundary pillars, the survey says. It adds that the government is also focusing on climate-resilient planning, promoting alternative energy to reduce dependence on fuelwood, strengthening wildlife resilience, and mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
According to the Survey, forest boundary consolidation is being carried out on a mission mode. Against a target of 300,000 forest boundary pillars, 254,000 have been resurveyed, and 175,000 have been installed and geo-tagged using advanced technologies such as CORS-enabled GNSS rovers.
In urban areas, the UT is establishing Nagar Vans, Vatikas, biodiversity parks and city parks in all 80 Urban Local Bodies. The survey says 43 ULBs currently have Nagar Vans managed by the Forest Department, while 16 out of 36 planned Nagar Vans have been completed.
The Economic Survey also says Wildlife Protected Areas are being managed through updated management plans, with a focus on scientific demarcation, species research, prevention of wildlife crime, and promotion of ecotourism through initiatives such as Jambu Zoo and Hokersar Eco-Stop. Plans include notifying new Ramsar sites and conducting biannual Hangul population assessments.
On wetland restoration, the survey says around five square kilometres of critically silted area of Wular Lake has been restored. Dredging at S K Payeen has increased the lake’s capacity by nearly 6.4 million cubic metres.
The survey also reports a complete ban on single-use plastic and large-scale seizures of illegal polythene and plastic across Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting continued enforcement against plastic pollution.
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