For a place whose economy leans heavily on tourism unclean air is an environmental concern. A Valley that attracts millions of tourists cannot look like New Delhi in winter. Yet that is exactly where current trends point – albeit, situation in Delhi is worse by far.

Satellite-derived data from 2023 shows PM2.5 levels in J&K consistently surpassing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The problem is not isolated; it is structural. Kashmir is deeply enmeshed in the Indo-Gangetic airshed, one of the world’s most polluted atmospheric belts. Emissions from industrial centres, power plants, crop-residue burning, and transport across northern India do not respect political boundaries. They flow across states, spilling into the Valley.

But blaming transboundary winds alone is not enough. J&K’s own weaknesses worsen the crisis. Air-quality monitoring remains sporadic, often absent. Real-time AQI data is rarely available on the Central Pollution Control Board’s website. Without reliable numbers, planning becomes guesswork.

CREA’s findings show a brief improvement after the monsoon, but this window is shrinking. Winters, which once brought only snowfall and biting cold, now arrive with a haze that hangs low over Srinagar, trapping pollutants and triggering respiratory illnesses. Doctors report more asthma cases, more bronchial infections, more vulnerable elderly patients.

For Kashmir, the stakes are uniquely high. Tourism thrives on perception, and perception is shaped by imagery: clean water, fresh air, unblemished horizons. A reputation for polluted winters can undo years of promotional campaigns. No visitor wants to inhale smog at 7,000 feet.

The response must therefore match the urgency. J&K needs year-round clean-air action plans, not seasonal firefighting. District-level strategies must be built on granular satellite data. The UT must strengthen its monitoring network, enforce emission norms, regulate construction dust, upgrade public transport, and coordinate with neighbouring states on airshed-level management.

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The people in Kashmir, who are always at the receiving end of any fluctuation in weather, will immensely benefit from this train link, as it would make their travel schedules predictable. Not just people, goods from Kashmir can now reach the markets in the country with more ease. As CM Omar Abdullah mentioned in his speech at the inauguration, this train would save people of Kashmir from the soaring air fares in the times of road closure.

The flagging off is an occasion that opens up possibilities in every sector of human activity. It would lead to further proliferation of economic relations with the wider markets in Indian. It would allow students from Kashmir move with ease into the educational spaces spread all across the country. It would bring in cultural and societal proximity that always helps in building human connections and ultimately contributes to flourishing of human relations. This train would be a game changer in more than one way. The people in Kashmir have thus many reasons to feel elated. This rail link was long overdue and as it becomes a reality new opportunities are expected to open up. The only missing link, though is a direct connect between Delhi and Srinagar. People expect that the time comes soon when people board the train at Srinagar station and alight at Delhi. With this moment here, that moment shouldn’t be far away.

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In the room–conference hall– there were well-meaning people, all accomplished in their respective fields, and watching them face to face with people’s representatives, holding a candid conversation on the state of affairs related to the handling of private schools in J&K, was soothing to the eyes.

A celebration of sorts

To begin with, if there was one solid piece of education for all in the room, it was the value we can experience in the live interaction between the people’s representatives and the people who they represent. This interaction was something to be celebrated. And we all know why, at the moment, it is a celebration with a capital C.

And that puts an extra burden on both, people and the people’s representatives. And that is to be truthful to each other. There might have been times for ‘privileges’ and ‘concessions,’ but that is certainly not there anymore. We should now develop the habit of building an argument and working in a normative, not to be confused with regulatory, atmosphere. The regulatory requirements are a small part of that normative framework; may be there are glaring contrasts between the two, at times. This normative framework is more about societal expectations and the very essence of the thing called education. On either side we should identify the relevant questions and collaboratively find answers to them. Without each other, we will only be harming each other. It is in that spirit that I look at schools and the functions they render.

Regulation, a faulty idea

As an independent observer, I may agree with the things people associate with private schools, or I may disagree. But in the larger scheme of things, our approach to private schools is inadequate and mostly faulty. The idea of ‘strict control’ smacks of intoxication of power, whosever enjoys it, and at whatever level it is enjoyed in the bureaucracy. What is being projected as ‘Regulatory Requirement” and what are the actual requirements of a school to impart education-there is a huge mismatch. There is also a mismatch between the societal requirements of education and the way government may want us to run a school. A dialogue can happen only if people are allowed to talk, and those in the government have the will to listen. The regulatory framework should evolve from that dialogue, and not be imposed from the top with a humiliating disapproval of the larger societal mind.

Organic, Autonomous, and Authentic

When I was lining up my idea on this, my daughter, student of a private school, was singing this line with herself: ‘Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader.’ If that is what education should aim at, we need to reconfigure our approach towards schools. Leaders are not born in an atmosphere of control, in an atmosphere of disrespect and limitations. Leaders are born in an organic, autonomous, and authentic space. Schools should be treated like that. The government and those who run the private schools should work collaboratively to ensure that schools become organic, autonomous, and authentic spaces. By reducing this lofty ideal of education to things like NoCs, fee fixation, and a strict adherence to the govt announcements on when to go for summer and winter vacation, we make a mockery of everything. One would love to see our schools as organic, autonomous and authentic spaces where teachers are respected and rewarded as they should be, where each service is adequately compensated, in monetary terms, and where those who run these schools are respected for their enterprising spirit.

Build a realistic understanding

If that has to be achieved, the government must simplify the processes, make the systems efficient, and build a realistic understanding around the concepts like Free Education, Charitable Trust and Not-for-Proft. In absence of that, our understanding of education and the private schools will always revolve around things like fee, with a ring of populism around it. Our fixation with the bathtub endangers the life of the baby in it, as we throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Danger of control

More we make it difficult to run a private school, we will see well meaning people, those who really work selflessly, leave this space. More we make it difficult, we will see enterprising people divert their energies and resources towards some other activity. And all this will only result in either our students leaving Kashmir to get quality education or remaining content with a downgraded form of education that will only waste their lives. Let’s pause and dispassionately think about it. A complaint here and there, about a private school here and there, should not guide our understanding about how to deal with private schools. It needs a visionary grasp of what education means, and an actual understanding of how institutions are run. You cannot squeeze such a vast territory within the noose of regulation. The government shouldn’t look at the private schools just through the prism of regulations, and the private schools also shouldn’t look back through the same prism. Make this discussion wider and focus on where the focus should be – education of our children. Future, in a word.

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“If it rains, landslides will hit…. Engulfing everything in their path including human lives.” These prophetic lines, written by a class 8 student in Kerala for her school magazine last year, have tragically come true. Today, she has lost both her school and her father in the landslide tragedy in Kerala (Wayanad) which has claimed over 300 lives so far.

In the last few days, rain-related incidents across seven states in India have resulted in nearly 50 deaths as monsoon mayhem continues. Record single-day rain submerged Delhi-NCR, while cloudbursts in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, and Jaipur have caused multiple fatalities, with many still missing. The recent advisory from the J&K administration urging people and tourists to stay away from water bodies underscores the urgent need to understand and address the impact of climate change on tourism and the environment.

As tourism industry booms (as per official records), it faces an increasingly urgent challenge: balancing growth with environmental sustainability alongside a changing climate. India’s diverse landscapes—from beaches to forests and mountains—draw millions of tourists each year. However, this influx often strains fragile ecosystems and exacerbates environmental degradation. To ensure the long-term viability of tourism while preserving natural heritage, concerted efforts are needed to implement sustainable practices and adhere to scientific guidelines.

Experts warn that India’s ecological landscapes are under increasing pressure from unregulated tourism activities. Climate change-induced events like extreme weather patterns, heatwaves and erratic rainfall complicate these challenges, affecting both natural habitats and tourist infrastructure and even tourist safety.

Effective policy frameworks are critical to managing tourism sustainably. Government agencies must collaborate with local communities, environmental experts and tourism stakeholders to enforce regulations that protect sensitive ecosystems. This includes zoning laws to limit construction in ecologically sensitive areas and implementing strict waste management practices.

Raising awareness among tourists and tour operators about responsible tourism practices is essential. Campaigns promoting environmental stewardship—such as waste reduction, energy conservation and respecting wildlife habitats—can instill a culture of responsibility among visitors. Training programs for tourism operators on sustainable practices should be introduced, emphasizing the importance of minimizing ecological footprints.

Investments in eco-friendly infrastructure are crucial for mitigating environmental impacts. Green certifications and incentives for eco-friendly accommodations can encourage tourism businesses to adopt sustainable practices voluntarily. Scientific studies on biodiversity, climate resilience and ecosystem health can help identify vulnerable areas and guide conservation efforts. Regular environmental impact assessments for tourism projects can ensure compliance with sustainability standards.

Importantly, implementing carrying capacity assessments for tourist destinations helps determine the maximum number of visitors an area can sustain without causing irreversible environmental damage. This scientific approach preserves biodiversity and natural habitats by ensuring tourism activities do not exceed ecological thresholds.

As such, managing visitor flows through seasonal restrictions and time-use regulations can reduce pressure on sensitive ecosystems during peak tourist seasons. Implementing quotas or permits for high-demand areas and limiting access during critical wildlife nesting periods will help minimize disturbance and protect natural habitats. Promoting ecotourism initiatives can encourage responsible visits to natural areas while contributing to conservation efforts and supporting local economies.

There is a dire need to strictly charge tourism taxes and fees earmarked for environmental conservation funds that can provide financial support for monitoring, enforcement and conservation efforts. Revenue generated can be reinvested into local communities, environmental education programs and conservation projects that benefit both residents and tourists. Investing in restoration and rehabilitation programs for degraded ecosystems and cultural heritage sites can also revitalize landscapes affected by tourism activities. Sustainable tourism funds can be allocated towards habitat restoration, reforestation and infrastructure upgrades that mitigate environmental impacts and enhance visitor experiences.

Utilizing digital solutions such as smart tourism apps and real-time data analytics enables better management of tourist flows, waste management, and resource allocation. Digital platforms can provide visitors with information on responsible tourism practices, environmental regulations, and local customs, furthering awareness and accountability. Enhancing regulatory frameworks with stringent enforcement mechanisms ensures compliance with environmental laws and sustainability standards. Regular inspections, penalties for non-compliance and transparent reporting mechanisms must hold tourism operators accountable for minimizing their ecological footprint and adhering to best practices.

While the tourism industry is vital for economic development, it must be regulated with scientific guidelines in place. If ecosystems become imbalanced, tourism will suffer, straining government resources as funds get diverted to rehabilitate disaster-affected areas. Sustainable tourism practices are essential to prevent environmental degradation, ensuring the industry’s long-term viability and protecting both natural and financial resources.

In the words of young girl from Kerala, whose story became a reality, we must heed the warnings of nature. Balancing tourism growth with environmental sustainability is not just an option but a necessity. By prioritizing environmental conservation along with tourism development, we can promote responsible travel practices and ensure that future generations inherit thriving ecosystems and authentic cultural experiences.

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The SED order has evoked a mixed response. Some are supporting it,  while some others opposing and demanding fresh summer vacation or online classes from home. Those supporting it say that this was the only option left for the authorities as fresh summer vacations could have resulted in the syallabus not getting completed. Those opposing say that the school children or the teachers, posted at far off places, will have to leave much early and that public transport is not available sufficiently at that time. Even some object to the kids leaving from schools for respective homes at 1pm  in scorching heat. So the discussion goes on. Steps need to be taken to protect the school children from the heatwave but at the same time their studies  must not get affected. Both the parents and the school education authorities must think humanely and practically also. Right now the heatwave is a problem and steps should be taken inside the schools to address it. But sometimes whenever the temperature rises or it rains heavily voices are being raised on social media by some parents or others for closure of schools.

Closing down the schools is not always a solution. Because such a step affects the studies of the children. Other possible options too must be explored so that the students do not suffer. Not all students study in private schools or have  private tuition facility or educated  family members to teach them. Large number of children go to government schools and  do not have other facilities available. Unnecessary closure of schools hampers their studies and affects their performance in examinations. Some over- protective parents sometimes make unrealistic demands. Rather than unnecessarily demanding frequent closure of schools , they  must demand better facilities for their children in schools to protect them from hot weather and cold. The children have to be slowly made to learn to deal with the emerging smaller practical problems during their school days. That way they can emerge stronger later in their lives. Otherwise, there is an apprehension of they developing the tendency of always blaming others and not themselves in case of a problem.

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Besides giving directions and making pleas, the concerned department must address the increasing water shortage problem with other measures also. The water supply has to be improved. There are reports of acute drinking water shortage in some rural areas. The people say they have the tap connections but not the water. Some remote areas are without any pipe and tap connections and subsequently not getting drinking water supply. The Jal Shakti Department has launched a mission to provide tap connection to 100 percent households.

This mission must be speedily completed. Besides completing the mission, adequate water supply has to be made available to consumers. There is no fun laying pipes and giving tap connections if the required water supply is not provided. The people in some areas say that they are forced to fetch water from other sources including streams, which are sometimes polluted. Subsequently, the water borne diseases affect them. There is a need to set up more water supply schemes. Such facilities must be provided wherever needed. Secondly, the defunct water supply system have to be made operational again. Water tankers must be sent to areas facing water shortage. Safe and clean water should be supplied to the people in any case.

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But such steps are proving inadequate to put an end to the accidents or reduce their number. The measures can prove fruitful if the drivers strictly start following the rules and do not indulge into acts that cause accidents. The responsibility to prevent road accident also lies on the families. The heads of the families have to themselves drive safely and motivate others in their families not to violate rules. The beginning in this direction must be made at the family levels. If families intervene there can be a positive change. If they continue to act as silent spectators then  reports of road accidents and deaths will continue to pour in. By violating traffic norms, the drivers not only endanger their lives but also that of others on the roads. It is the responsibility of the person on the wheel to protect his life as also those in his vehicle and also those in other vehicles or the pedestrians crossing the roads. The authorities must pay attention towards the bad condition of roads. Necessary repairs must be made to improve the condition. The repair work has to be started immediately on the accident prone roads.

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However, ‘Jam tomorrow’ for people living in this part of the world is jam free roads and hassle free journeys. Possibly, traffic jams are here to stay and our tomorrow will continue to be jammed.

They say the universe is expanding. And that should help with the traffic. Our traffic is also mounting but roads are getting choked. We have cars but we don’t have expressways. “The car has become the carapace, the protective and aggressive shell, of urban and suburban man”, wrote Marshall McLuhan, father of Electronic Age, in his pioneering book Understanding Media.

So, being in a jam, shelled in your car, is not an ordinary feeling or experience. It is like being held up in a vast space, which may probably look like a blackhole. You feel blind, breathless and bushed. Like a helpless and lifeless creature. You see no getaway. You are just stuck in a noisy pell-mell. A troublesome tailback. You are irritated, feel trapped but still struggle to make ends meet, reach destinations and meet deadlines. Nevertheless, with all desperate efforts to get out, your car proves to be ‘a convenient place to sit out traffic jams’. You traffic in nostalgia, you traffic in thoughts, you traffic in remorse, and you traffic in all that you observe around. The details of your journey become out of the ordinary. Amid the gridlock and annoyance, there lies an unpredicted eye-opener. The car, once merely a vessel for transit, becomes a cocoon for introspection. As you shove the stop-and-go rhythm of the city, the hum of engines and the cacophony of horns/sirens blend into a sharp symphony of urban life. Each delay offers a moment to pause and reflect, to observe the microcosm of human behavior unfolding around you. In this motorized womb, you find a peculiar peace, a chance to ponder the passage of time and the journey itself. The chaos outside becomes a mirror, reflecting the inner landscape of thoughts and self-analysis. The traffic jam doesn’t seem just an obstacle, but comes up as a sign that even in the dash and mash of modern life, there is space for stillness and soul-searching.

However, a pragmatic reflection can also develop when you are stuck in a traffic jam. Like German Scientist Sebastian Thru who said, “I’ve developed my passion for cars that drive themselves from being stuck in traffic for many, many, many hours of my life. I don’t know what it adds up to, but I feel like I’ve lost a year or two just in traffic. That’s big to me. That’s a lot of time, a lot of money that I just lose on the road”.

Going by the time we spend in traffic jams every day, it amounts to the loss of many productive years of our life. The student travelling to exam centre. A patient referred to hospital. A school kid waiting to be in class. A teacher rushing for students. And many more. All squander time in honking anarchy, dusty ambience and frozen travel. We bump, we bother, we bluster. All that leaves us in a flap.

These are all the reasons to visualize this fracas. To saunter roads of soul and soil. To take detours you had never imagined. To face these gridlocks. Every morning. Every evening. To and fro. Here and there. Damn them for all that they deliver to us. Anxiety. Anger. Antipathy. And irretrievable time loss. Our precious automobile carapace becomes our torture cell. You want to get down and leave it behind. You want to let go, move on and meander in silence. But there is only murky noise and no road ahead. There is no space to inch. You only wish to unlock the traffic jam in everybody’s head: from pedestrians to drivers holding the steering wheel. Or else, you know your tomorrow is going to remain a Jam Tomorrow. Virtually.

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‘’God has brought you out of mother’s wombs, not knowing anything; and He gave you the hearing, and the eyesight, and the brains; that you may give thanks’’ (16:78)

The senses that Allah has endowed human beings with places them in the category of being the supreme creation (Ashraf-ul-Makhloqat) apart from special senses, humans are provided with the power of cognitive thinking. It is the power of cognitive thinking, which makes out good from bad, sacred from profane. The special senses, the cognitive power should lead the human beings to thankfulness to the Creator, the Provider. And, there is enough for registering how the laws of nature operate:

‘’Have you not seen the birds, flying in the midst of sky? None sustains them except God. In this are the signs for the people who believe’’ (16:79)

The Ayah Karim points to the outer world, carrying an exhibit how the laws of nature operate in making birds to fly in the midst of sky. In the exhibit are indeed signs for the people who believe, as also in the multiple benefits that livestock provides:

‘’And God has given you in your homes habitat for you, and has provided for you out of hides of livestock portable homes for you, so that you can use them when you travel; and when you camp; and from their wool, and fur, and hair, furnishings and comfort for a while’’ (16:80)

The bounties of Allah are indeed endless. Apart from dwellings for rest, tents built of the skin of the cattle are light enough to be carried on journey, and to be pitched at places of halt. The wool, fur and hair provide garments and others means of comfort in common use, such as rugs.

There is enough grounding for belief, provided one is inclined to believe, and have faith.

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