Kashmir, with its charming, soothing, and beautiful landscapes, is rightly called a paradise on Earth. Its weather, streams, waterfalls, mountains, culture, and unparalleled hospitality are treasures that poets, writers, and intellectuals have long celebrated. Allah Almighty has blessed this land with immense natural beauty and has entrusted humanity with the responsibility to protect and appreciate these gifts.
The distinction between good and evil is inspired in man, and it is our duty to safeguard the environment that sustains us. Take, for instance, the world-famous Dal Lake. Had its cleanliness been maintained from the outset, the government would not need to spend crores of rupees annually for its preservation—funds that could instead have furthered Kashmir’s development.
Unfortunately, Dal Lake, like many other water bodies such as Wullar Lake and Manasbal Lake, has suffered significant environmental degradation. Environmentalists reveal that 75% of Dal Lake has been destroyed, and the aquatic life severely affected. The Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA), established to restore Dal Lake’s splendor, has failed at various levels.
My hometown panderathan is located on the banks of the Jhelum River. My father reminisces about a time, thirty years ago, when Jhelum’s water was safe to drink without filtration. Today, we are wary of using even tap water without filtering it first.
This decline reflects the broader environmental crisis we face, one that.
