Imran Shah/ Vikar Shah
Kishtwar, J&K (India) : World Environment Day was observed in Kishtwar with a plantation drive jointly organised by Sahyog Dhara NGO and the Indian Army.
On the occasion, Dr. Daisy Parihar, Chairperson of Sahyog Dhara NGO, strongly advocated the promotion of bamboo cultivation under the National Bamboo Mission, describing it as an effective solution for environmental conservation, flash flood mitigation, soil protection, and sustainable livelihood generation in the district.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Parihar said the National Bamboo Mission can play a transformative role in making Kishtwar greener and more environmentally resilient. She noted that bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world and has an extensive root system that binds soil, prevents erosion, stabilises slopes, and helps reduce the impact of landslides and flash floods in hilly regions.
She said bamboo cultivation is particularly important for Kishtwar because of its mountainous terrain and increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events. Suitable cold-tolerant bamboo species, she added, can be introduced under the mission to restore degraded land, improve green cover, and contribute to ecological balance.
Highlighting bamboo’s economic potential, Dr. Parihar said it can generate employment opportunities for local youth through bamboo-based industries, handicrafts, furniture manufacturing, construction materials, packaging products, agarbatti sticks, paper production, and eco-friendly alternatives to plastic and thermocol. She added that bamboo requires comparatively less water, grows rapidly, absorbs significant amounts of carbon dioxide, and releases large quantities of oxygen, making it an ideal plant for climate change mitigation.
Dr. Parihar stressed that environmental protection should not be limited to a single day of celebration but must become a lifelong responsibility of every citizen. She said human beings are only temporary custodians of the Earth and that the future of coming generations depends on the actions taken today.
Calling for greater environmental responsibility, she urged people to stop harming nature through pollution, deforestation, indiscriminate waste disposal, and reckless exploitation of natural resources. Planting trees alone, she said, is not enough; equal emphasis must be placed on keeping villages, towns, cities, forests, rivers, and other water bodies clean and pollution-free.
She also encouraged the adoption of environmentally responsible lifestyles, including waste segregation, proper garbage disposal, water conservation, energy efficiency, and protection of natural ecosystems.
“The Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth. Let us work collectively to build a greener, cleaner, and safer future for generations to come,” she said.
Dr. Parihar appreciated the Indian Army for its active participation in environmental conservation initiatives, stating that it is not only safeguarding the nation’s borders but also contributing significantly to environmental awareness and sustainable development through plantation and community outreach programmes.
She also expressed gratitude to Mehboob Qazi, the management, staff, and administration of Islamia Faridia School, as well as Sanjay Sharma, Principal of SDM School, for organising meaningful World Environment Day programmes. She appreciated their efforts in spreading environmental awareness among students and encouraging young minds to become responsible custodians of nature through plantation drives, cleanliness campaigns, and educational activities.
The plantation drive witnessed enthusiastic participation from Indian Army personnel, members of Sahyog Dhara NGO, teachers, students, and local residents, reflecting a shared commitment to environmental protection and the vision of a greener and more sustainable Kishtwar.
