CM Omar Abdullah Calls for Action-Oriented Mountain Policy, Stresses Ecological Protection and Livelihood Security
Srinagar, October 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called for a practical, action-oriented roadmap for sustainable mountain development in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising that environmental conservation, economic growth and the protection of livelihoods must go hand in hand.
The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar. The summit is being jointly organised by SKUAST-Kashmir and the Integrated Mountain Initiative, in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir Science, Technology and Innovation Council (JKSTIC).
Held under the J&K Agriculture Science Congress-2026, the three-day summit focuses on sustainable Himalayan landscapes for an inclusive Viksit Bharat and the formulation of a Sustainable Mountain Development Policy for Jammu and Kashmir.
Emphasising the vulnerability of the region's mountain ecosystems, Omar Abdullah said climate change, erratic snowfall, water scarcity, extreme rainfall and landslides were posing growing challenges to the environment, infrastructure and livelihoods across Jammu and Kashmir.
“We do not take care of our mountains, our environment as much as we should. We cannot stop global warming on our own, nor can we reverse it. The whole world will have to come together to address this challenge. But we can certainly take better care of our own environment,” he said.
Referring to changing weather patterns, the Chief Minister observed that declining and irregular snowfall, coupled with delayed winter precipitation, was contributing to water shortages during spring. He added that prolonged dry spells were increasingly followed by intense rainfall, cloudbursts and flooding, creating additional challenges for communities and infrastructure.
Describing these developments as an emerging reality, he said Jammu and Kashmir needed to adopt development strategies that accounted for environmental risks while ensuring economic opportunities and livelihood security.
“We have to ask ourselves: how do we sustain our livelihoods and how do we develop? Development is essential, but it must be sustainable,” he said.
On tourism, the Chief Minister cautioned against attributing all environmental degradation to the sector, while acknowledging that rising visitor numbers placed pressure on popular destinations. He said responsibility for protecting the environment rested with the government, local residents, businesses and tourists alike.
“Tourism does put pressure on our environment, but to assume that the situation is bad only because of tourism or tourists would also be wrong. We will have to take some responsibility,” he said.
Urging greater public participation in environmental protection, Omar Abdullah called for reducing single-use plastic, avoiding littering and conserving water and energy. He observed that individual responsibility and changes in everyday practices were essential complements to government efforts.
The Chief Minister said sustainable tourism development required a planned expansion of destinations rather than restrictions that could adversely affect communities dependent on tourism.
He emphasised that established destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg should not be subjected to abrupt restrictions. Instead, new destinations should be developed in a planned manner, with adequate infrastructure for sewage treatment, wastewater management and solid waste disposal established from the outset.
“Some of our destinations do not have enough carrying capacity. We have to widen tourism, not to stop people from going to Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonamarg, but to develop new and sustainable destinations where the systems for waste disposal and sewage disposal are already ready,” he said.
Highlighting the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, Omar Abdullah expressed concern over unscientific hill cutting during road construction, which he said had contributed to landslides and repeated damage to roads, particularly in remote areas.
He observed that indiscriminate cutting of mountain slopes without adequate attention to slope stabilisation and appropriate engineering practices could reduce initial construction costs but lead to recurring damage during heavy rainfall.
Such damage, he said, often necessitated reconstruction and diverted resources that could otherwise be used to expand the road network.
The Chief Minister said he had asked the Forest and Environment Department and the Public Works Department to coordinate their efforts to ensure that development projects incorporated sustainable engineering practices and measures to minimise landslide risks.
“When you cut a mountain, cut it in a way in which the possibility of landslides may not be eradicated, but at least be reduced,” he said, stressing that long-term sustainability must take precedence over short-term financial savings.
On urban planning and housing, the Chief Minister called for energy-efficient, earthquake-resilient buildings and more efficient land use. With land resources becoming increasingly scarce in the Kashmir Valley, he said planners should explore vertical development wherever appropriate instead of continued horizontal expansion, while ensuring compliance with seismic safety standards.
Recalling the devastation caused by the 2014 floods and the 2005 earthquake, he stressed the importance of integrating disaster resilience into future construction and exploring cost-effective measures to strengthen existing buildings.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the visible retreat of glaciers in the region, citing changes in the glacier near Sonamarg as an example of the impact of environmental change.
He said the receding glacier, which once extended close to the meadows, now required visitors to trek considerably farther to reach it, underscoring the scale of changes taking place in the Himalayan environment.
“That is what we owe the future generations. Protect what we have, retrieve what we can, and ensure that we do not do any further damage, while also ensuring that livelihoods are protected,” he said.
Underscoring the economic importance of agriculture and horticulture, Omar Abdullah said the region's economic foundations were often misunderstood because of the prominence given to tourism.
He noted that agriculture and horticulture made a substantially greater contribution to Jammu and Kashmir's economy than tourism, making environmental conservation and sustainable mountain development essential for economic security and long-term prosperity.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that the summit would move beyond academic deliberations and produce concrete recommendations capable of being translated into effective policies and practical measures.
He said Jammu and Kashmir aspired to become the first Himalayan territory to formulate its own mountain policy, adding that his government was keen to advance the initiative through wider consultations.
However, he emphasised that the proposed policy must reflect ground realities and strike a balance between environmental protection, development requirements and the needs of communities dependent on mountain resources.
“Those recommendations need to be grounded in reality. We need to balance the need for sustainability with the need for existence and livelihoods,” he said.
Expressing gratitude to delegates from different parts of the country for participating in the summit, Omar Abdullah said he looked forward to receiving recommendations that could guide future policy decisions.
“I cannot emphasise this point strongly enough. Sustainable development through actionable inputs and practical steps is what I hope this summit will deliver,” he said.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released several publications brought out for the summit.
Minister for Agriculture Production Javid Ahmed Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department Mandeep Kaur, SKUAST-Kashmir Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmed Ganai, Integrated Mountain Initiative President STS Lepcha, former IMI president PD Rai, IMI Councillor Rajan Kotru, delegates from 11 mountain states, representatives of non-governmental organisations, faculty members, scholars, students and other stakeholders attended the inaugural session. ANB
