Soaring temperatures are breaking centuries old records of scorching and scalding heat. Erraticity in different weather phenomena is proving detrimental for our sustainable existence. Heatwave advisories in the month of May have sent shock waves among commoners and environmentalists. Many water bodies have stopped to flow abundantly in order to irrigate paddy and other crop fields. Even drinking water scarcity has surfaced from many areas of Kashmir valley. Authorities are scrambling for answers, commoners are looking for miracles from the skies, and ironically, a big chunk of our populace is in deep slumber as if there is no environmental chaos in the valley.
Something terrible is about to happen. A catastrophe of large magnitude is in the making. We may end up with a drought in the near future. A place known for its crystal clear aqua resources, is facing the pangs of a famine like situation due to insufficient and inadequate flow in its water bodies. Our summers were not harshly hot a few decades ago. May of our childhood was mildly warm. Fans and air-conditioners were not in vogue then. But, now, things have begun to change drastically. An unnatural phenomenon is about to gulp us ghastly. Time has come to understand, assess and analyse the conundrum of climate change causes and its related effects.
Our conscience comes under a barrage of questions and queries. What happened to us? Where did we go wrong? What really ails our ecology and environment? Whom to blame for the mess? Who is guilty before God and man ? These are the basic questions which keep every Kashmiri haunting and bewildered. We can’t blame people at helm alone. We are equally responsible for the climatic calamity and environmental plight. A government official is not supposed to walk behind us with a dustbin in hand. Law enforcing agencies won’t install CCTV cameras to keep a vigil on our activities. Exercising conscience and constraint is inevitable to safeguard our water bodies, greengold, biodiversity and climate. God had ordained us with the best possible place to live in, but our ulteriorly selfish motives have turned it into a virtual hell.
Our ancestors would never fiddle with mother nature. A bruise to the bark of a tree was believed to enrage the custodians of Empyrean. Harming and hurting anyone was beyond their imagination. They undoubtedly had no degrees and diplomas to their credit, they were illiterate and unlettered, yet their civic sense was enviable and highly admirable. Waterbodies, particularly rivers and streams were held in reverence and sanctity. Peeing on the banks of the waterbodies and under the trunks of trees was thought to invite the rage of Allah SWT. These water bodies were virtually worshipped.
But, now, see the height of ignorance and arrogance of the so-called modern and civilized kashmiris that every dross and trash including deadly sewage of homes and industries, human and animal excreta, tonnes of polythene bags and rappers, and carcasses are proudly dumped into the bellies Jhelum and its tributaries. The jugular vein of Kashmir valley called the Jhelum is facing the brunt of our callous and oblivious attitude. We haven’t even spared high altitude lakes and glaciers of our valley. Human intervention near eco sensitive spots has aggravated the disaster. Researches and studies carried out at our premier institutions of higher learning suggest that we may end up in a highly deplorable situation. Even distribution of water might escalate tensions between nuclear giants of south Asia viz India and Pakistan.
Deforestation is another potential cause of simmering and scorching summers in Kashmir valley. Relentless carnage of green wealth goes unabated. Commoners as well as people at the helm seem to be complacent with the chopping and axing of tall trees. The loot of jungles coupled with high emission levels of greenhouse gases is fueling the already burgeoning crisis. Contrary to modern times, trees were quite dear to our fathers and forefathers. Forests were seen as custodians and sustainers of the land. Now, the land under crop cultivation is diminishing and dwindling rapidly. Construction of unplanned residential structures, shopping complexes, roads and other projects is taking toll of our environment. And consequently, the mercury continues to soar.
Lo and behold ! Alarm bells are ringing to awake is from the deep slumber of rapacity and oblivion. Entire humanity is going through the environmental turbulence. Further surge in temperature will put life at stake. Mother Earth will witness an annihilation of hundreds of species. Hundreds of water bodies will dry up. Food production is sure to reduce awfully. Inadequate food and water resources might trigger starvation and mayhem on the planet. The pandemonium in the making is beyond our imagination. Ah ! The humanity about to vanish from the planet Earth. The scenario may not be alarming and scary for some people, but, sensitive souls are extremely worried and concerned about the growing devastation.
It is not over and out for us. We can compensate the losses and the damage incurred by our indifferent attitude towards the environment. Supernatural creatures won’t come to change our fate. God has ceased to descend prophets for mankind. Now, the onus is on us to lead the world out of commotion and quandary. We have to be the ambassadors of peace and prosperity. Elimination of climatic upheavals and extremity lies in our hands. Let’s all pledge to illuminate the world with our insight and intellectual radiance. The world is craving for revivalists and reformists to restore its bygone glory, tranquility, peace and serenity. Let’s be the leaders to eradicate the gloom and despondency from the world.
Author is a Teacher and a Regular Columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]
