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SRINAGAR: A memorandum highlighting serious environmental and flood-risk concerns over the proposed Plug-and-Play Industrial Park at Nowgam, Srinagar, has been submitted to M.Y. Tarigami, Hon’ble MLA and Chairman, Committee on Environment, J&K Legislative Assembly.
The representation, submitted by the Peoples’ Environmental Council (PEC) in association with the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO), calls for a multidisciplinary review before the location of the proposed project is finalised. The memorandum points out that the proposed 50-acre project, involving an estimated investment of about ₹104 crore, is located in an area linked to the functioning of the Jhelum floodplain and raises concerns regarding flood absorption, drainage and climate resilience.
Tarigami, while receiving the representation, made it clear that the question of compromising the environment in the name of development does not arise. He stressed that development must be sustainable and scientifically planned, particularly when it concerns ecologically sensitive areas and natural flood-management systems.
The memorandum does not oppose industrialisation or employment-generating investment. Instead, it seeks to ensure that development takes place at an appropriate location without weakening Srinagar’s natural flood-management infrastructure or increasing risks to surrounding communities. It specifically urges the Government to undertake a multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder assessment involving urban planning, hydrology, flood-risk management, ecology, disaster management and public-investment economics before taking a final decision.
Tarigami’s position assumes added significance in view of his recent interventions as Chairman of the Environment Committee. He has called for zero tolerance against environmental violations, scientific monitoring of natural resources and stronger environmental safeguards. The Committee has also recently stressed that wetlands are critical not only for biodiversity but also for flood mitigation, with conservation decisions to be guided by scientific data and public participation.
The Nowgam issue therefore goes beyond a single industrial project. The larger question is whether development planning can proceed without undermining the natural systems that protect Srinagar from flooding. The representation argues that protecting a flood basin is not anti-development; rather, it is a prerequisite for safe, resilient and sustainable development