Srinagar, Oct 12: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said environmental protection cannot be the government’s responsibility alone and called for collective citizen action, even as he cautioned against any abrupt restrictions on tourism that sustains thousands of families across the Union Territory.
Speaking at the J&K Agriculture Science Congress 2026 at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) in Srinagar, JK CM Omar Abdullah said the region was already living with the consequences of climate change — erratic snowfall, water scarcity, landslides and floods.
He said snowfall has become increasingly unpredictable, with inadequate winter precipitation directly affecting water availability in the months that follow. People face water shortages through March, April and May, he noted, only to witness heavy rainfall and rising river levels later, heightening the risk of floods and landslides.
“This is our new reality. This is the reality we are living with,” JK CM said, stressing the need to sustain livelihoods while pursuing development.
The Chief Minister said climate change cannot be tackled by any single region or country in isolation and demands coordinated global action, but added that local communities must take ownership of protecting their surroundings and natural resources.
On tourism — a key pillar of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy — The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said its environmental impact must be addressed without ignoring the livelihoods of those dependent on the sector. He warned against abruptly restricting tourist arrivals, saying tourism supports the income of many local families and businesses, and that any move to regulate visitor numbers would require a gradual and balanced approach.
While acknowledging that tourism places pressure on the environment, he pushed back against blaming turists and vehicles alone for pollution, plastic waste and water scarcity. He asked whether areas with little tourist activity were necessarily free of garbage and plastic pollution, and urged residents to examine their own practices.
CM Omar also criticised the habit of throwing waste from vehicles and public transport, saying citizens must stop littering and take greater responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean. He also encouraged people to reduce their dependence on single-use plastic bags by carrying reusable bags while shopping.
Emphasising resource conservation, he urged people to prevent water wastage and switch off lights in unoccupied rooms and fans and heaters when not in use.
Acknowledging the government’s primary responsibility in environmental protection, chief minister Omar Abdullah said meaningful change would require active public participation, and that sustainability and conservation could become achievable goals only when government action is complemented by responsible behaviour among citizens.
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