KSA’s Mission, Vision 2030: Lesson for J & K

Towards sustainable and brighter future of KSA, Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdul Aziz launched a very comprehensive program in April 2016 on a mission mode namely Vision 2030. The main aim of the vision 2030 is creating a strong and vibrant society, thriving economy and an ambitious nation. The vision 2030 projects take into an account the current and future economic, social and environmental impacts and addressing the needs of citizens, pilgrims, visitors, tourism industry, the environment and the host communities.
The vision 2030 focuses on all sustainable development goals including no poverty, zero hunger, reducing inequalities, improving good health, quality life, quality education, promoting gender equality, clean water, sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable agriculture, sustainable tourism, economic growth, infrastructure development on green lines, industry innovation, inclusive growth, sustainable cities, communities and future. Vibrant society includes in which all citizens can thrive and pursue their passion. Thriving economy includes creating a favorable environment for local and foreign investment for its high economic growth. It also aims to boost local products, save and create more jobs for future generations. An ambitious Nation includes to promote transparency, accountability and impartiality at all levels including building a strong kingdom that is more responsive, effective, accountable, vibrant, transparent, corruption free, empowering and high performing.
Since the launching of the comprehensive program vision 2030, the Kingdom Saudi Arabia has been investing huge amount for development of all kinds of infrastructures’. The development of roads and introduction of modern transport facility have been benefiting immense pilgrims and visitors for their easy movement. The development and expansion of roads and introduction of modern transportation modes like Haramain high speed railway without any damage to the natural landscape and environment is praiseworthy and has been contributing to the economic and sustainable development of the country.
Proper and instant collection of waste and its segregation and disposal on scientific lines is very impressive, effective and an admirable. It is pertinent to mention that the holy Haramain Sharief and its adjoining areas is witnessing huge rush of pilgrims round the year and even a single plastic bottle or polythene bag or scrap piece is not found scattered anywhere and same is the case at other places like Madinah, Riyadh, and Jeddah. The said cleanliness environment all around is witnessing smart kingdom, environmental ethics and behavior changes among people for well-being of the environment, the country and the future. The Kingdom has taken an appreciable and welcome step that any citizen or person involving in causing any pollution is charged a heavy fine and same is the case with driving a vehicle as any person violating any traffic rule is to be fined at least one thousand SAR through online mode. Sustainability is a key part of 2030 vision as the kingdom strives towards net zero emissions and a better future by 2060 through green initiatives particularly emission reduction, afforestation, land and sea protection, circular carbon economy initiatives and switching over to green economy. The kingdom is committed in improving quality of life, protecting environment for future generations and combating global warming and climate change. Reducing its dependence on nonrenewable sources of energy, the kingdom Saudi Arabia is developing Sakaka Solar Power Plant that is sustainable and cost effective and is achieving its goal of reducing dependence on oil in future. Protecting its diverse marine ecosystem, combating climate change and global warming, the Saudi Arabia kingdom is committed to sustainable and green future by investing on many important sustainable projects for achieving sustainable goals on war footing basis. Many conservation efforts taken by the Kingdom includes establishment of wild life sanctuaries, national parks, preservation of landscapes, rich heritage, mountains, hills, beaches are really an important milestone in the Kingdom. Great steps taken by the KSA with regard to emission reduction and increase of reliance on clean energy has been improving quality of life of people and protecting its environment for future generations.
To promote and boost its tourism sector on lines of sustainable tourism called green or ecotourism, the kingdom is investing on all its tourist destinations in sustainable ways. Conserving its rich culture, heritage and breathtaking natural beauty is really an admirable. Continuous process of planting trees in millions particularly in Riyadh, Madinah, Jeddah etc. is a lesson for all the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The capital Riyadh has completely turned green due to uncountable number of green trees planted on road sides, parks and public places that have been attracting minds and hearts of all visitors.
“Proper collection and disposal of waste as in entire Saudi Arabia and planting millions of trees all around as in capital Riyadh of Saudi Arabia should be implemented across Jammu and Kashmir. The mountains, hills, and fresh water bodies that add to the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir should be protected from illegal mining. Like the Saudi kingdom is conserving and protecting its all desert lands and converting into a green land, the Jammu and Kashmir government with the cooperation of sincere, civilized and responsible citizens should also save all the natural resources and beautiful places. People must refrain from pollutions and destructions to the environment. they should keep adding more to the beauty of paradise land instead of turning into a barren and desert land.”
The Kingdom has already declared the capital Riyadh as green Riyadh and one who visits the Riyadh finds peace, solace and fascinating and mesmerizing beauty all around. For the past many years, almost all places in Saudi Arabia is growing and developing green due to efforts of the Saudi Arab king Salman bin Abdul Aziz and the responsible citizens. The holy land of Saudi Arabia is thriving in all respects due to the promotion of sustainable environment, sustainable economy and brighter future. Expanding vegetation cover, switching over to clean energy, combating desertification, conserving natural resources, and biodiversity in Saudi Arabia will definitely address environmental challenges. KSA lacks fresh water rivers, lakes and regular rainfall and has been converting sea water into fresh water for its people under sustainable desalination projects. Blessed with natural mesmerizing scenic beauty, invigorating climate and hospitality of people, the Jammu and Kashmir is known all over the world. But unfortunately, for the last one decade, materialistic and careless people in Jammu and Kashmir are axing their own natural resources and destroying natural beauty. Due to rapid population explosion, soaring pollutions and unregulated infrastructure development on agriculture and horticulture lands and even on fragile places, forests, waterbodies, Eco fragile places are getting destroyed. An unabated pollutions and destructions in the environment at the current pace due to sheer carelessness of people will soon good bye water bodies, wetlands, forests and Eco fragile mesmerizing places once for all thereby causing an ecological imbalance, and disaster. Tons of plastic waste is produced every year and absence of recycling facilities, plastic is being dumped into waterbodies, forests, fresh water bodies and scattered on roads. Despite dustbins installed by the government at public places, parks and tourist places, materialistic people throw wastes into water bodies, forests, roads and public parks. What would the fate of the residents of the Jammu and Kashmir in future, if the people will do the same as the Jammu and Kashmir has already lost many fresh water bodies, wetlands, forests etc. Is developing and growing green Saudi Arabia not a lesson for we careless people where deserts are being turned completely into green lands? Where lawn and green plants are being imported at high costs for developing green parks and green road sides. Erratic climate for the last ten years due to anthropogenic activities resulted long dry spell amid scorching temperatures. Heat waves coupled with windstorm, thunderstorm and hailstorm have become very common affecting agriculture and horticulture sectors of Jammu and Kashmir immensely. Unexpected rains, flash floods and melting of glaciers are results of climate change and global warming. The Kashmir remained warmer than Delhi, Chandigarh, Punjab etc. during the ongoing winter and reduction in snow cover is itself witnessing the impact of climate and global warming due to anthropogenic activities. Emission of green house and other poisonous gases into the atmosphere by vehicles, cement factories and brick kilns has caused great destructions in the environment of Jammu and Kashmir. Soring air pollution has caused considerable losses to agriculture and horticulture sectors thus great impact on livelihood of people associated with it. Food, energy and water security also have been severely impacted. When population is on rise and land is shrinking and pollutions are soaring, the behavior change and development of environmental ethics among people is need of the hour. The Jammu and Kashmir government must devise sustainable policies that would ensure sustainable utilization of our resources. Implementation of polluter pays tax on ground will bring behavior changes among people and will save our dying lakes, streams, wetlands, forests, public parks. Proper collection and disposal of waste as in entire Saudi Arabia and planting millions of trees all around as in capital Riyadh of Saudi Arabia should be implemented across Jammu and Kashmir. The mountains, hills, and fresh water bodies that add to the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir should be protected from illegal mining. Like the Saudi kingdom is conserving and protecting its all desert lands and converting into a green land, the Jammu and Kashmir government with the cooperation of sincere, civilized and responsible citizens should also save all the natural resources and beautiful places. People must refrain from pollutions and destructions to the environment. they should keep adding more to the beauty of paradise land instead of turning into a barren and desert land.

(The author a Teacher at Government Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwah Budgam is presently in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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