In a statement issued here, the GCC said the frequent cloudbursts and flash floods over the past fortnight should serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of disturbing the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. "The nature is coming back hard to warn of more serious fall-outs in the future," the group said, adding that unplanned constructions, deforestation, and encroachment of water bodies were among the primary reasons for the devastation.

 

The GCC expressed frustration over what it termed as the government's "inaction" in conducting mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) before executing development projects. "That the Himalayan ecosystems have reached a breaking point needs to be acknowledged by the governments in the Himalayan states, including Jammu and Kashmir, as also by the Central Government," the statement read.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

 

The group further urged the Union Territory and Central governments to ensure that EIA is not dispensed with under any circumstances, especially in eco-fragile zones and tourism sites. "The recent flurry of 15 cloudbursts over 14 days—12 in Chenab Valley and three in Anantnag—besides incidents of flash floods, mudslides and land erosion in Bhalesa, Thathri, Tuleil and Gurez should be indication enough of a larger disaster awaiting eruption on some other trigger," the GCC warned.

 

The Group has demanded that approval for any development project in and around environmentally sensitive areas must be made contingent upon the outcome of a thorough EIA, and called for urgent corrective measures to prevent further degradation of the region's natural assets. (KNS)