Green Development Policy
Representational Image
Editorial . . . . . .
According to statistics, the number of people without access to safe drinking water is increasing around the world. Indeed, water as a resource, its preservation, correct management, and exploitation necessitate clear policy guidelines so that any town, country, or state can meet the future developing water crisis, which, if not handled properly, might lead to disputes.
According to experts, two out of every three people on the planet will have a water problem. This figure is alarming. Experts, on the other hand, are optimistic that the globe “has the skills to substantially ameliorate – if not solve – the looming global water crisis.” Sustainability, conservation, technical innovation, and local solutions, they believe, will be vital to addressing the water crisis.
Rainwater collecting and other micro-projects involving families and communities may be the answer, rather than massive dams. In reality, we should not follow in the footsteps of others, such as building gigantic dams. We might go for less expensive alternatives that incorporate both modern and traditional designs. As earlier stated at the opening, efficient water management and preservation are critical in addressing both scarcity and access to this vital resource. The issue of water can no longer be ignored. Our governments must make the water issue a priority in their growth plans.
It is critical for the Jammu and Kashmir people to secure a sustainable water resource and its management. Unlike some other peoples, the J&K have been given natural resources such as water, land, and forests by almighty God.
However, in the decades since the development process began, we have done nothing to maintain and protect our natural resources as a community. We’ve been caught up in the whirlwind of creating a modern state, and in the process, we’ve allowed the blatant destruction of our forests and erosion of our fertile lands to accommodate so-called development projects, and as a result, our water supply has been depleted, and our rivers have dried up or become contaminated.
To put an end to our destructive mindset, a collaborative effort involving the UT government, particularly with our grass-root tribal and hilly bodies, is required. Yes, we cannot halt development because it is essential. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, on the other hand, can demonstrate a sustainable development model to the rest of the globe. Fortunately for us, our natural resources are still intact, albeit not completely, and we are in a better situation than many others. Soil and water conservation are handled by different departments.
Much more needs to be done, and the government should start by focusing on the efficient management of our water resources, as well as their contamination protection and conservation. Similarly, the Forest Department can start a campaign by informing our villages that excessive tree felling and forest damage are drying up our water sources. Because the government cannot do everything, grassroots organizations should educate and lobby for policies that will safeguard, maintain, and sustain our traditional water sources for future generations.
Rural women, who are the most impacted by the water crisis, may have a key role to play in its preservation. They walked hours to collect it, lugging plastic or ceramic pots to the nearest safe water source and doing so up to three times a day. The launch of the Women Water Conservation Club’s e-registration is a positive step. We must achieve maximum registration with such groups in every district of J&K, as well as education on how to play a positive role in water conservation and preservation by assuring judicious use of this priceless natural gift. Students, social groups, BDC chairpersons, Panchs, and Sarpanchs should be involved in special rallies at the District and Block levels.
Let us not follow in the footsteps of the disastrous developmental models that are being promoted from the outside. People of Jammu and Kashmir must evolve at our own pace, in our own setting, and according to our own plans. For this, the government should adopt a well-thought-out green development policy that incorporates the local people’s traditional knowledge. The water crisis issue must be dealt within the spirit of service because clean and safe water is a basic human need.
