Civil society group proposes water security commission amid concerns over shrinking waterbodies in Kashmir

Pointing out the problem of retreating glaciers and shrinking water bodies in Kashmir, the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), a non-governmental organization comprising retired bureaucrats and judges, on Friday, June 26, 2026, proposed the formation of a Prime Minister-led Commission on water security and ecological resilience, along with a mission to monitor glaciers, springs and watersheds.

“We declare the period 2026-2035 as the Decade of Water Security and Ecological Restoration in J&K. We call on the government, Legislative Assembly, local institutions, academia, private sector, civil society and every citizen to work together to restore and protect natural systems,” says the Srinagar Declaration, a policy document prepared after experts warned about ecological degradation, decline in forest cover due to expansion and contraction of highways. Glaciers in Kashmir.

In a 10-point proposal, the Gulf Cooperation Council proposed a CM-chaired Commission on Water Security and Ecological Resilience; water security strategy based on integrated river basin management; climate risk action plans; glacier, spring and basin monitoring mission; restoration of major wetlands, floodplains, and river corridors; real-time environmental dashboard etc. Establishment of a climate and ecological risk observatory.

It also proposed to establish a special J&K Climate and Environment Fund; city ​​water action plans; Integrating ecological carrying capacity and climate resilience into every major public investment and infrastructure project.

“Due to the retreat of all our glaciers, the discharge in our rivers, streams and streams is likely to decrease further, leading to acute shortage of drinking water and water for crop irrigation. All water bodies, including our rivers and lakes, are in poor condition, silted and encroached,” said retired IAS officer and GCC chief Khurshid Ahmed Ganai.

‘Environmental emergency’

A recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report stated that the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir has lost a staggering 70% of its wetlands and water bodies since the 1960s. Of the 697 lakes recorded in 1967, 315 lakes covering an area of ​​1537 hectares have completely disappeared. “This is an environmental emergency,” Mr. Ganai said.

He said the Forest Amendment Act, 2023 was a setback. “It has allowed all forms of security infrastructure in forest areas or at the international border within 100 km of the Line of Control, without Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and official environmental clearance. Other major environmental concerns are the incessant road and tunnel construction activities in hills and mountainous areas without reference to EIA,” Mr. Ganai said.

He said the bad news is that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change has allowed the cutting down of approximately 2.8 million trees in the forest area in the last three years. Large-scale infrastructure development in hills and mountains will destabilize mountain features as seen in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” Mr. Ganai said.

Meanwhile, Dr. who served J&K as Sadar-e-Riyasat and Governor in the past. Karan Singh also raised the alarm over the “unplanned infrastructure expansion in the Himalayas”.

“Roads and large-scale development projects in the Himalayan region had destabilized the mountain ecosystem. Over-expansion of highways and tunneling had caused serious ecological damage. Why would tourists need four-lane roads?” Mr Singh, who also served as Tourism Minister in 1967, spoke at an event organized by the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Mr Singh said the size of the water body in Dal Lake “has reduced over the decades to almost one-third of its original width”.