Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 24: Accusing the Omar Abdullah-led Government of allowing “unchecked” tree felling in the name of development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today alleged that Kashmir is “gradually losing its natural cooling shield” amid rising temperatures.
Addressing a press conference here, BJP spokesperson, Dr Abhijeet Jasrotia said that trees are being cut in the name of development and that there is no serious effort to restore what is being lost. “We are gradually losing our natural cooling shield,” he said.
Jasrotia claimed that Kashmir’s temperature is currently around 2.5 degrees Celsius above normal – higher than the global average rise of approximately 1.5 degrees – placing the Valley in what he described as a “danger zone.”
Speaking alongside party spokespersons Altaf Thakur and Manzoor Bhat, he criticised what he termed the Government’s focus on artificial measures to counter warming.
“At a time when we need massive afforestation and strong forest protection policies, the Chief Minister talks about artificial snow and artificial cooling. These are cosmetic measures and potentially dangerous for sports lovers as well as the fragile Himalayan ecosystem,” he said.
Unregulated urban expansion, road widening projects and shrinking orchards, he said, were contributing to ecological imbalance. The BJP leader further claimed that between 2019 and 2023, forest cover in the region had shown improvement.
However, he alleged that under the present National Conference (NC) Government, deforestation, wetland degradation and unchecked construction had increased again, which could worsen heatwaves, reduce snowfall and impact tourism and horticulture.
Altaf Thakur said environmental degradation was already affecting livelihoods.
“Irregular snowfall and rising temperatures are hurting apple growers and the tourism sector. The government has failed to present a transparent climate policy or a concrete urban planning framework,” he said.
He stressed the need for scientific planning and strict monitoring of tree felling.
Calling for public participation, Jasrotia proposed a symbolic plantation drive, suggesting that on Eid, every child should receive a Chinar sapling as Eidee and plant it.
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