Srinagar, February 24, 2026 : The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday strongly criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his pitch for introducing artificial snow at Gulmarg, accusing the government of “complete inaction” on environmental protection and failure to address climate challenges in the Valley.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, BJP spokesperson Abhijeet Jasrotia said Kashmir is witnessing alarming warming trends, even as the government, according to him, is resorting to “cosmetic solutions” instead of safeguarding natural ecosystems.
“At a time when the Valley urgently needs extensive afforestation and strict forest protection, the chief minister is talking about artificial snow and artificial cooling. These are superficial measures and potentially dangerous for sports lovers as well as the fragile Himalayan ecosystem,” Jasrotia said.
The remarks come a day after Omar Abdullah advocated the use of artificial snow in Gulmarg to boost tourism and promote the destination as a winter sports hub amid declining natural snowfall.
The BJP alleged that over the past one-and-a-half years, the National Conference-led government has failed to protect Jammu and Kashmir’s green cover.
“Trees are being cut in the name of development, but there is no credible effort to compensate for this loss. We are steadily losing our natural cooling shield,” Jasrotia said.
He further accused the government of lacking a comprehensive climate action strategy and prioritising “public relations exercises over genuine environmental protection.” According to the BJP, unregulated urban expansion, aggressive road-widening projects and shrinking orchards are collectively contributing to ecological imbalance in the Valley.
“Instead of taking decisive action to protect forests, wetlands and water bodies, the government appears content enjoying the hot seat,” the spokesperson remarked.
The BJP also claimed that under the National Conference government, deforestation, wetland degradation and unchecked construction have intensified, warning that such trends could worsen heatwaves, reduce snowfall and adversely impact tourism and horticulture.
Calling for mass public participation in environmental conservation, Jasrotia proposed a symbolic plantation drive.
“On Eid, every child should receive a Chinar sapling as Eidee and plant it. This will send a strong message about preserving our heritage and securing our future,” he said.
The party demanded a time-bound afforestation programme, strict environmental audits of development projects involving tree cutting, and urgent revival of wetlands and traditional water bodies. Failure to act, Jasrotia warned, could push Kashmir towards irreversible environmental damage.
