KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, May 12: Veteran legislator and senior CPI (M) leader M.Y. Tarigami has been appointed Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Environment, with the Assembly Secretariat formally constituting the panel for the term ending March 31, 2027.
The announcement was made through an official notification issued by the J&K Legislative Assembly Secretariat in Srinagar under the authority of Speaker Advocate Abdul Rahim Rather.
The newly constituted committee brings together a cross-section of legislators from different political parties and regions of Jammu and Kashmir at a time when environmental concerns in the Union Territory are becoming increasingly urgent.
Alongside Tarigami, the committee includes Prof. Gharu Ram, Sajad Gani Lone, Baldev Raj Sharma, Daleep Singh, Showkat Hussain Ganie, Javaid Ahmad Mirchal, Dr. Sajjad Shafi, Salman Sagar, Javaid Riyaz (Bedar), Dr. Rameshwar Singh and Ms. Devyani Rana as members.
According to the notification, the committee has been constituted under Clause 1 of Appendix-I to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The panel is expected to function as an important oversight body, examining matters related to environmental governance, ecological conservation and implementation of policies aimed at protecting Jammu and Kashmir’s fragile natural ecosystem.
Tarigami’s appointment to head the committee is being viewed as significant in political and administrative circles, particularly given his long association with public issues concerning land rights, rural development, agriculture and environmental protection. Over the years, he has repeatedly raised concerns over ecological degradation, unregulated developmental activity and the impact of climate-related changes on vulnerable communities across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Environment Committee is likely to deliberate on a wide range of pressing issues confronting the Union Territory, including deforestation, pollution, shrinking water bodies, illegal mining, waste management and the increasing strain on urban infrastructure. Environmental experts have consistently warned that rapid urbanisation and unchecked construction activities are posing serious risks to the Himalayan ecology of the region, making institutional oversight more important than ever.
Sources within the Assembly said the committee may also review the implementation of environmental laws and conservation schemes while seeking reports from departments dealing with forests, urban development, tourism, water resources and pollution control.
Legislative committees traditionally play a key role in examining government functioning and recommending policy interventions, and the Environment Committee’s observations are expected to carry substantial weight in shaping future ecological policy decisions.
The notification issued by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather was circulated to all concerned legislators as well as senior government officials, including Financial Commissioners and Additional Chief Secretaries, marking the formal commencement of the committee’s tenure.
With environmental concerns increasingly emerging as a major public issue in Jammu and Kashmir, the formation of the committee under Tarigami’s leadership is expected to place renewed focus on sustainable development and ecological accountability in the Union Territory over the coming year.
