‘Shifting of High Court Complex Jammu at Raika Forest’

Climate Front Jammu, in solidarity with Environmental Awareness Forum & Nature Human Centric People’s Movement, organized a Climate Strike, at Press club Jammu raising concerns around Lithium Discovery in Reasi, J&K, and its environmental consequences, the issue of Doda Land Subsidence and Jammu’s Save Raika Forest movement. The NGOs shouted slogans for Climate Justice and asked people and the establishment to take this development seriously. The strike was observed to bring attention to important environmental concerns as J&K being a Himalayan region, cannot sustain ecological ignorance.

On the issue of Lithium Discovery in J&K, the environmentalist expressed concern by quoting case studies from the countries they were already mined in South America, where this has led to extreme pollution causing determent effects on the ecology and people of the area it is mined in. On the issue of Doda, their statement was not to take it so lightly even if it is an isolated case right now, as we need to learn our lessons before another Joshimath-like episode happens in any other Himalayan state. The issue of Jammu’s Raika forest, where High Court complex shifting is proposed, was also raised and the public was informed about how this movement was entering its third year on 14 February ’23, where Climate activists will again assemble tomorrow and express their love for Raika through the modern revival of Chipkoo movement, under an event called Valentine’s with Raika.

“The events in the past days that lead to Doda subsidence and then the celebration of lithium discovery has raised serious concerns amongst the community of climate activists in Jammu

At this point, it becomes even more important to Join the historic movement to Save Raika in Jammu. As connect with nature around the cities is the only way how we can make the public understand the environmental perspective of all the developments happening in the country. Without these climate actions on the ground by the larger public, Jammu will be oblivious to the environmental threats it faces in the future being a Himalayan region”, said Anmol Ohri, Founding Director, of Climate Front India.

“In the issue of Doda’s land subsidence, the establishment’s antipathy and blame gaming to the individuals of the area is escaping the responsibility state has for the people. The absence of compensation to these affected families till now shows how seriously the government is taking the issue. We would like to raise the question that has the government prepared a plan to stop this from happening in any other place of J&K? ”, said Mr. Roopchand, a senior citizen from Nature Human Centric People’s Movement.

“The issue of Lithium discovery has caused grave Concerns for the environmental security of our state. While we are in no way against mining, we however would like to ensure that the government doesn’t repeat the same mistakes that countries that have been mining lithium, have been making for so long. As rigorous mining in a place like J&K can threaten the ecological balance here, which may affect the whole of South Asia.” said Navjeev Digra, Director, of Climate Front Jammu.

Concluding the strike, Bhushan Parimoo, Founder of “Environmental Awareness Forum”, stressed the need for the younger generation to come out to take this issue, as they will be affected the most. All the while, this also requires the adults to introspect, as what kind of world will they be leaving for their future generations?”.