Omar for committed strategy to address climate change issues

JAMMU: Underlining the far reaching consequences of climatic change, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Thursday asked for a unified and committed strategy to address this concern and help restrict human interference detrimental to environment and eco-balance.
“We all are equally stakeholders in maintaining, preserving and conserving our eco-system as our future is directly related to this phenomenon”, he said and asked the government departments connected to create massive public awareness in this regard. “The youth particularly students at all levels have to be involved in a campaign in this direction”, he added.
Chairing the first meeting of the State Governing Council on Climate Change here, the Chief Minister who is also the Chairman of the Council said that the erratic weather conditions, cooler summers and warmer winters are outcome of this change and we are witness and victims of it.
“Climate change in the State is visible by the change in our snowfall and rainfall pattern, depletion of water resources, melting of glaciers, etc”, he said adding that agriculture and tourism have also been affected by this change. He said earthquakes, flash-floods, tsunamis, landslides, droughts and untimely rains and snowfalls are largely associated with climate change and global warming.
Giving directions for associating experts and subject matter specialists in various Councils constituted in the State to address climate change, the Chief Minister said that the decisions of the Governing Council regarding the subject should necessarily be according to the recommendations of the experts. He said the subject is of more technical and scientific nature as such, it requires scientific and up to the mark expert opinion to formulate a comprehensive and effective Action Plan for the State.
Asking for finding a useful balance between development and environment, Omar Abdullah said that energy efficient infrastructure, low carbon transport and reduction in green gas emission are the subjects requiring focused attention to move forward for achieving substantial results.
Omar Abdullah said that the concept of climate change was a theoretical proposition for a long time but it is a practical challenge confronting the human civilization at present. “Everyone of us is under its effect and the impact is gaining magnitude with alarming threat to the sustenance of life itself”, he said reiterating his thrust on mass awareness about the holocaust of climate change and global warming. “The mass-education and complete awareness in this regard holds key to achieving the goal”, he added.
The Chief Minister directed for holding of meetings of the Governing Council twice a year and those of Executive Council quarterly. He also directed for finalizing the Action Plan for the State by March 2012 so that all the concerned agencies and departments work according to it and in a coordinated manner.
Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Industries, S. S. Salathia, Minister for Health, Sham Lal, Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla, Minister for Transport, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Syed Aga Ruhullah, Minister of State for Power, Shabir Ahmad Khan, Minister of State for Tourism, Nasir Aslam Wani, Principal Secretary Agriculture, Iqbal Khandey, Principal Secretary R&B, K. B. Agarwal, Principal Secretary Housing, Suresh Kumar and Commissioner Secretaries of Tourism, Industries, PHE, Animal Husbandry, Health, Revenue, R&B, Transport and Consultants from Government of India participated in the meeting.
On the outset Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad presented the brief about the constitution and assignments of the Governing Council, Executive Council and Working Groups. The Commissioner Secretary Forests, Shantmanu who is also the Member-Secretary of the Governing Body gave details of the action taken for formulation of State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).
The Consultants in a PowerPoint presentation, identified sectors requiring attention to address the affects of climate change in the State. One of the Consultants Dr. Sharma, said that the sectors of agriculture, water, forests, health, animal husbandry, tourism, etc. are the areas where the affects of the climate change have been studied and its futuristic impact analyzed by the Consultants.
The Consultants while giving details of the suggestions formulated by the team, to deal with the climate change consequences, appreciated the State Government for having necessary data pertaining to various subjects of importance available on net. “Unlike other States our work was greatly facilitated by the readily available data on net in Jammu and Kashmir regarding the subject”, they said and lauded the Omar-led Government for the same.
The Chief Minister approved the proposal of incorporating Chief Secretary and Administrative Secretary Planning and Development Department in Governing Council to enhance the working module of the Council and help speedy planning process on the basis of the recommendation of 10 Mission of SAPCC.
The meeting was told that the Himalayan States being the special category States and having specific problems regarding climate change, in a Chief Ministers’ Conclave held at Shimla, have resolved to jointly face the challenges of climate change and ensure sustainable development in Himalayan region.