Climate change fund, cancer institute in Kashmir on MLAs’ wish list for Omar’s Budget

Srinagar: J&K CM Omar Abdullah’s pre-budget consultations with legislators and civil society groups have thrown up a range of new proposals, among them a dedicated climate change fund in the budget, the establishment of a cancer institute in J&K and setting up of cold storage and food-processing units.The budget session of the legislative assembly will commence on Feb 2 in Jammu.During the pre-budget consultation in Srinagar on Saturday, CPI(M) legislator from Kulgam, M Y Tarigami, called for the inclusion of a dedicated climate change fund in this year’s budget. He said J&K has been witnessing the severe impacts of climate change in recent years, including flash floods, droughts and prolonged dry spells. “A large population suffers from climate-related disasters. The climate migrations are taking place with people having to migrate from their villages and settle somewhere else,” he said, adding that he insisted climate risk must be integrated into financial and development policies. He said the CM was positive about the proposal.PDP’s Waheed Parra pitched for the establishment of a cancer institute in J&K due to rising cancer cases. The legislator said that 8000 to 10,000 people die every year due to cancer diseases in J&K. “Cancer has led to 67,000 deaths in five years while the conflict has led to 67,000 deaths in 30 years. The biggest battles are often the ones we don’t see. Families, especially the poor, are forced to sell land and assets to seek treatment outside because local hospitals are overburdened or lack capacity,” he said.National Conference legislator from Gulmarg–Tangmarg constituency, Farooq Ahmad Shah, said Kashmir has immense potential for dairy farming and horticulture, despite being widely known for tourism.A group of citizens, in their separate meeting with the CM, raised the question of new building rules and urged the govt to ensure any revision of building controls is aligned with statutory plans and the ecological and infrastructural capacity of cities and towns.