Srinagar – Member Parliament and Pradesh Congress Committee President, Prof Saf-ud-din Soz has urged the need of a single master plan for the entire Valley to address the issues of regional socio-economic development.
While speaking during the valedictory function of the two-day International Conference on Regional Development, Sustainability and Socio-Economic Development organized by P.G Dept of Geography & Regional Development KU in collaboration with CSRD, JNU New Delhi, Amar Singh College Srinagar and Initiative for Social Change and Action (ISCA) New Delhi Prof Soz said If we are to focus on the sustainable development of the whole Kashmir region then I must say that the Srinagar Masterplan alone will not serve the purpose. There is an urgent need to conceptualize and draft a single masterplan for the entire Kashmir Valley, otherwise we will continue to lose our precious forest cover, karevas, water bodies and agricultural land.
Prof Soz while delivering the valedictory address to the academicians, research scholars and students at the University of Kashmir said The focus of your research and study should revolve around the preservation of forest cover of the region and water bodies since the valley has suffered a great deal on both fronts. Both forests and water bodies are great repositories of natural resources and play a significant role in the overall socio-economic sustainable development of any region in the world.
Prof Soz said that rapid urbanization is taking a heavy toll on the ecology of the region and natural resources which include the lakes, rivers, wildlife parks are facing the brunt of this urbanization.
Huge money is being pumped in to save the Dal, however results are not that encouraging. Unless and until we as society don`t change our attitude towards our natural assets at individual and collective level, policies, planning, projects and steps taken to preserve these natural resources would continue to fail, said Prof Soz.
Terming horticulture as one of the significant sectors of regional development in the Valley Soz while impressing upon the researchers and scientists to achieve breakthrough in their experimentation so as to take the industry to new heights said Our researchers and scientists need to provide great attention to the horticulture sector as this is the only major sector which sustained the state economy during the times of turmoil and presently 70 percent of population of the valley is attached with this industry.
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