Sopore, Apr 21: Congress legislator Irfan Hafiz Lone on Tuesday stressed that preserving Kashmir’s water bodies is essential to safeguarding the region’s traditional identity of ‘Kashmiriyat’ and maintaining a crime-free society.
The MLA from Wagoora-Kreeri visited the Haigam wetland along with Pattan MLA Javaid Riyaz Bedar and officials from the forest and wildlife departments.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener on the occasion, MLA Lone quoted a well-known Kashmiri proverb: “An posh tila dil wan posh” — (when the food bowl is full, the heart is content.)
“Many places in the world can be beautiful, but Kashmir was called Jannat-e-Benazir because it was a crime-free society. Drugs were unknown to us,” MLA Lone said, adding that water bodies are an integral part of Kashmiri identity.
While asserting that constitutional issues would be resolved through peaceful means, the Congress leader said the protection of water bodies and the future generation was equally critical.
Congress legislator raised concerns over two specific projects in Rakh-e-Haigam, Nala-e-Nigli and Baal Kaul. He warned that flooding was leading to silt accumulation in the Rakh, with environmentalists flagging the spread of willow as dangerous for the wetland ecosystem. He called for a diversion strategy to protect the area.
“We need to act in a peaceful manner while ensuring our identity and environment are not lost,” MLA Lone added.
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