Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir is aiming to become the first Himalayan territory to adopt a dedicated Mountain Development Policy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Monday, stressing that the framework must be developed through collective consultation rather than in isolation.
Addressing the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), the Chief Minister said his government was keen to implement the policy but emphasised the need to involve all stakeholders in its formulation.
“From the governance side, we would love to implement it, but it is important that the policy is not created in isolation,” Omar said.
He stressed that sustainable mountain development was vital to Jammu and Kashmir’s long-term survival, particularly in view of the region’s environmental vulnerability and dependence on agriculture and horticulture.
Omar said there was a widespread misconception outside Jammu and Kashmir that tourism was the backbone of its economy, whereas agriculture and horticulture made a far greater contribution.
“Most people outside J&K have a misconception that the region’s economy survives on tourism, but in reality, the contribution of the tourism sector towards the economy of J&K is on the third or fourth number. Agriculture and horticulture are far above anything else,” he said.
He added that environmental protection and sustainable mountain development were essential for safeguarding livelihoods and ensuring the region’s future.
Climate change poses growing challenges
Highlighting the impact of changing weather patterns, the Chief Minister said Kashmir had experienced a shortage of rainfall, uneven snowfall and an unusual series of cloudbursts over the past couple of years.
“This is a new reality. This is a reality we are living with. With this, we need to learn how we can sustain our livelihoods along with development. Development is essential,” he said.
Omar maintained that environmental challenges, including climate change, could not be addressed by governments alone and required coordinated action by citizens, institutions and policymakers.
While acknowledging that environmental protection was a primary responsibility of the government, he urged people to use natural resources judiciously and adopt more responsible practices.
He said no region or country could tackle climate change single-handedly, underscoring the importance of collective efforts to protect fragile mountain ecosystems.
Tourism growth must be balanced with sustainability
On tourism, Omar said the government had been discussing ways to manage visitor numbers at certain destinations but cautioned against imposing blanket restrictions, given the sector’s importance to the livelihoods of many families across Jammu and Kashmir.
“In closed rooms, we are discussing limiting the number of tourists, but in reality, we cannot restrict them to limited numbers because many families in Jammu and Kashmir are dependent on the tourism sector,” he said.
The Chief Minister acknowledged that some tourist destinations had limited carrying capacity and that tourism-related activities were placing additional pressure on the environment. He called for diversifying tourism across the region while ensuring that fragile destinations were protected.
However, he cautioned against attributing all environmental problems to tourists and pilgrims, saying local residents must also examine their own practices.
“Before raising fingers at tourists, it is our responsibility to protect the environment. We need to look at ourselves and see how much plastic bag usage and other hazardous things are being used by the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Omar’s remarks highlighted the need for a development approach that balances economic growth, tourism and local livelihoods with the protection of Jammu and Kashmir’s fragile mountain environment. He reiterated that any Mountain Development Policy would need broad-based participation to address the region’s distinct ecological and economic challenges.
