Jammu: Expressing deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating environmental conditions across the Jammu region, Senior Advocate, former legislator, and Chairman of the International Council for Enviro-Legal Action (ICELA), Ashok Sharma has called for urgent and collective action to protect the region’s fragile ecological balance before the damage becomes irreversible.
Addressing a gathering here, Sharma warned that the environment is facing unprecedented threats from multiple fronts, including unchecked pollution, illegal mining in riverbeds, encroachments on natural resources, unscientific development activities, plastic waste, and rapid urban expansion. He cautioned that if immediate corrective measures are not taken, the Jammu region could face severe environmental and public health consequences in the years ahead.
Highlighting the importance of preserving Jammu’s natural heritage, Sharma stressed the need to protect ecologically significant water bodies such as Mansar Lake, Surinsar Lake, and other wetlands that play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and groundwater recharge. He said these natural assets must be safeguarded from pollution, encroachments, and unsustainable human activities.
Raising concern over the increasing degradation of rivers and streams, particularly due to illegal mining and waste disposal, Sharma called for strict enforcement of environmental laws to protect the Tawi, Chenab, Ujh, Basantar and other water resources that are vital for the region’s ecology and livelihoods.
Referring to large-scale infrastructure and development projects being undertaken across the Jammu region, Sharma emphasized that roads, highways, tunnels, and urban expansion must be carried out in an environmentally responsible manner. He advocated the adoption of bio-engineering techniques, scientific slope stabilization measures, and regulated muck disposal practices to prevent soil erosion, landslides, and ecological degradation in hilly districts such as Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri, and Poonch.
The ICELA Chairman also highlighted the environmental pressures emerging from increasing tourist and pilgrimage footfall at destinations such as Patnitop, Shiv Khori, Mansar, and along the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route. While acknowledging their importance to the economy and religious tourism, he stressed the need for sustainable management practices to prevent environmental degradation and preserve the natural character of these areas.
Coming down heavily on plastic pollution, Sharma called for a zero-tolerance approach against the use of single-use plastics, particularly in pilgrimage circuits, tourist destinations, and urban centers. He urged strict action against violators, saying plastic waste has become one of the most visible threats to the region’s natural beauty and ecological health.
He further stressed the importance of scientific waste management and demanded an immediate end to open dumping practices. Municipal bodies and local authorities, he said, must ensure effective waste segregation, recycling, and environmentally sound disposal systems to protect both public health and the environment.
Emphasizing the role of local communities in environmental conservation, Sharma called for strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions and empowering citizens to monitor and report environmental violations, including illegal mining, deforestation, and encroachments on public lands.
Sharma’s passionate appeal resonated strongly with the audience as he reminded people that environmental conservation is no longer merely an option but an urgent necessity. He urged citizens, policymakers, and institutions to work together in protecting Jammu’s natural resources, warning that the choices made today will determine the quality of life for future generations. “The environment is not a gift from our ancestors; it is a trust borrowed from our children,” Sharma remarked, calling for immediate action to preserve the region’s priceless ecological heritage.
Others who spoke on the occasion included Dr. Kuldeep Sharma, Satish Poonchi, K.Y. Manhas (Retired District & Sessions Judge), Advocate Usman Choudhary, Capt Lalit Sharma, Ashwani Sharma, Advocate Arjun Sharma and others.
