There were jubilations among well wishers of humankind on nations of the world succeeding in forging a consensus resolution on climate change in their deliberations in Paris. Scientists and social workers have called it an achievement and a breakthrough in protecting the globe for the disaster which could happen if we do not act in time. The proverbial vagaries of nature can cause disasters and calamities with enormous potential of wrecking the population in disaster prone areas and regions. The whole world is seized of this threat and has girded loins to find some solution to avert the impending mishaps.
Science and technology, the marvellous achievement of human ingenuity in modern times, have brought so many comforts hitherto unknown to human beings. But along with that, the era of science and technology have also brought many woes in trail. The woes are in no way less in intensity when compared with the benefits which the new knowledge has brought in. Notwithstanding these facts and realities of life which we are living at the moment, it is a sincere endeavour on the part of scientists and technocrats to see how we can face the challenge which climate change is likely to bring. One very visible consequence of rising temperature, melting of glaciers, pollution of air, deforestation and severe damage to ecology and many more things have adversely affected the climate and the cycle has become vulnerable to change, of course, to the detriment of human and animal life.
Conscious of the scale of damage likely to be caused to the ecololgy that we call climate change in simpler words, various organs and agencies of the United Nations addressed the scenario with all seriousness. It was but natural that the members of this prestigious international body would evince interest in developing some mechanism to reduce ecological degradation. Our country occupies very significant position among the comity of nations owing to her population and size. Entire world is watching with eagerness to know what India, the second largest populated country in the world and comprising more than one fourth of human population on the globe. Keeping in view all aspects of the phenomenon called climate change in the entire country, in 2010, the Union Government held fulsome discussion on the subject of climate change with the Chief Secretaries of all States where the necessity of developing the State Specific Climate Change Action Plan was felt. J&K was part of this process. In June 2014, the Steering Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests approved the Auction Plan and identified Environment and Forestry, Energy (Solar Mission and Renewable Energy), Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Water, Sustainable Habitat and Sustainable Agriculture etc. as key areas where Action Plan could be made implementable.
But the irony is that despite so much of spade work done at the level of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and despite being fully aware of the compulsions for maintaining ecological purity, the State Government soft-paddled with the scheme and till date there has not been any movement at any level towards implementing the Action Plan. State Government’s callousness and apathy towards the Action Plan persisted despite devastating floods of 2014 whose impact still lingers with the affected people in the Valley. It is known to all that the flash floods in Jhelum were caused by the melting of glaciers in the Himalayan upper reaches and the waters flooded the rivers and nullahs. This should have been a clarion call for the administration to stand up and respond to the threat posed by climate change phenomenon. The irony is that during the Climate Change Action Plan formulation, the State representatives to the high powered meeting had identified High Priority, Medium Priority and Low Priority sectors for implementation of the Action Plan on priority basis. But nobody knows what has happened that now they are not ready to translate the same into reality. We have the information that no department has submitted any progress report on the implementation of the Action Plan, and in doing so they have clearly defied the instructions of the Chief Secretary. This is a sad commentary on the functionality of the administration in the State because we find it a gross aberration that must be corrected immediately.
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