Srinagar, Aug 30 (JKNS): Grand Mufti of Jammu & Kashmir Nasir-ul-Islam Farooqi has termed the recent calamity in Nepal a serious warning for the entire Himalayan region, urging the governments to reassess development practices and adopt a comprehensive ecological policy to prevent future disasters.
The calamity unfolding in Nepal must not be viewed merely as an isolated natural disaster. It should compel governments and society to reflect upon the ecological limits of the Himalayan region, he said.
The Himalayas are a delicate living system. Unscientific construction, deforestation, climate change, excessive exploitation of natural resources and disregard for carrying capacity can transform ecological stress into human catastrophe, Mufti Nasir said.
I urge the Government of India and the Government of Jammu & Kashmir to treat this as a serious warning and initiate a comprehensive Himalayan Ecological Policy, based on scientific assessment, carrying-capacity studies, responsible development and protection of forests, rivers and mountain habitats, Mufti Nasir said.
Kashmir cannot remain indifferent to what happens in the Himalayas. Our ecology, water systems and livelihoods are deeply interconnected with the health of these mountains, he said.
Development is necessary, but development that destroys its ecological foundation ultimately becomes a recipe for disaster, he added.
Nature does not negotiate indefinitely. When warnings are ignored, nature answers with consequences. (JKNS)