Jammu: In what is being seen as one of the most comprehensive legislative reviews of Jammu and Kashmir’s environmental health in recent years, the J&K Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment is set to undertake a sweeping assessment of the ecological impact of tourism across the Union Territory, amid rising concerns over pollution, encroachments and the sustainability of major tourism projects.
The high-level meeting, scheduled for July 23 under the chairmanship of MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, comes at a time when Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing record tourist footfall, placing unprecedented pressure on its fragile ecosystems, including wetlands, rivers, lakes and forested landscapes.
Top government officials, including the Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Tourism Department, Chief Executive Officers of all Tourism Development Authorities, and the Chairman of the J&K Pollution Control Committee, have been directed to appear before the panel with detailed status reports on environmental compliance, conservation measures and sustainable tourism initiatives undertaken over the last five years.
The Committee, comprising legislators from across the political spectrum, is expected to closely examine the implementation of the J&K Eco-Tourism Policy, protection of wetlands and water bodies from encroachments, sanitation and solid waste management systems, enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics, and the environmental compliance of hotels and tourism establishments.
Particular attention will be paid to the functioning of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at key tourist destinations, with members seeking accountability over pollution control measures and the disposal of waste generated by increasing tourist inflows.
Significantly, some of Jammu and Kashmir’s flagship tourism infrastructure projects—including the Gulmarg Gondola Project, the proposed Tawi Gondola Project, Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), and leased tourism assets—will come under the Committee’s scanner. Environmental audit reports, ecological clearances, expenditure on conservation initiatives and action taken against environmental violators are also expected to be reviewed in detail.
The meeting assumes added significance as environmental experts and civil society groups have repeatedly warned that unregulated development and inadequate waste management could undermine the long-term sustainability of Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism sector, which remains a major contributor to the local economy.
Sources indicate that the Committee’s deliberations will focus on ensuring that development does not come at the cost of environmental degradation, with an emphasis on preserving biodiversity and maintaining the ecological balance of the Himalayan region.
The outcome of the review is expected to influence future environmental governance and strengthen institutional mechanisms aimed at promoting sustainable tourism across Jammu and Kashmir.
As policymakers gather in Srinagar, the message from the Legislative Assembly appears clear: the Union Territory’s natural treasures—from the snow-clad slopes of Gulmarg to the banks of the Tawi—must be protected with the same commitment with which they are promoted to the world.
