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SRINAGAR: All Party Sikh Coordination Committee Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina has called for a sustainable and environment-friendly industrial development policy for Jammu and Kashmir, stressing that new industries must generate long-term employment opportunities for local youth without compromising the Valleyās fragile ecology.
Raina said the experience of several industrial ventures in the past highlighted the need for careful planning and a thorough assessment of the economic viability of proposed projects before their establishment.
Referring to the closure or poor performance of industrial units, including the HMT factory and other manufacturing ventures, he said many skilled and educated employees had been left unemployed after these units failed to sustain their operations.
He also cited past initiatives in cricket bat manufacturing, pharmaceutical production and other small-scale industries, which, he said, struggled to achieve long-term commercial success.
Highlighting Kashmirās geographical constraints and the cost of transporting goods to markets outside the region, Raina stressed that industrial proposals must be assessed in terms of their commercial feasibility, market access and long-term employment potential.
He observed that sectors such as handicrafts, locally produced spices and certain cement manufacturing units had demonstrated potential, underlining the importance of identifying industries suited to Kashmirās economic conditions and available resources.
Raina called for the establishment of a committee comprising technical experts to examine and recommend industries that could contribute to economic growth, create sustainable jobs and minimise environmental damage.
He said industrial development should prioritise local employment, particularly for educated unemployed youth, rather than promoting projects that might close down after a few years and leave workers without livelihoods.
Expressing concern over the possible environmental consequences of unregulated industrialisation, Raina cautioned against projects that could increase pollution, damage natural resources or lead to the unnecessary acquisition of local land.
He emphasised that economic development and environmental conservation must go hand in hand, adding that industrial proposals should be evaluated transparently and their details placed in the public domain.
Raina further stressed the need for a clear and well-defined framework to ensure that proposed industries deliver tangible benefits to local communities while preserving Kashmirās natural environment.
He maintained that Jammu and Kashmir needs a development strategy that addresses unemployment through economically viable and environmentally responsible industries, ensuring sustainable growth for future generations.
