Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The College of Temperate Sericulture at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Mirgund, organised a cleanliness drive at the historic tourist destination of Nilnag, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to environmental conservation and social responsibility.
Faculty members and students took part enthusiastically in the campaign, collecting litter from the site and scientifically disposing of it, with the aim of promoting cleanliness and environmental awareness while instilling a sense of civic responsibility among the youth. Nilnag, tucked away in the hills near Srinagar, has long been valued for its scenic meadows and freshwater lake, drawing both local visitors and tourists, which also makes it vulnerable to littering and ecological strain during peak seasons.
Speaking on the occasion, Student Welfare Officer and Organising Secretary Dr. Aabid Khaliq Tantray highlighted the historical and ecological significance of Nilnag, urging students to protect and preserve the region’s natural heritage through responsible behaviour and active community participation. He noted that such destinations require sustained conservation efforts rather than one time interventions, and called on young people to take ownership of their surroundings.
Faculty members Dr. Shabir Ahmad Bhat, Dr. Sabiha Ashraf, and Dr. Shabir Ahmad Wani appreciated the enthusiastic involvement of the students and encouraged them to continue serving as ambassadors of environmental protection and sustainable practices in their own communities going forward. Their remarks underscored the university’s broader push to embed environmental stewardship into student life, beyond the confines of classroom instruction.
The programme concluded with participants taking a collective pledge to promote cleanliness and environmental conservation in their communities, reinforcing SKUAST-K’s stated commitment to nurturing environmentally conscious citizens. Such drives have become a recurring feature of the university’s outreach calendar, often timed to coincide with the summer tourist season when footfall at Kashmir’s lesser known but ecologically sensitive spots tends to rise sharply.
By involving students directly in fieldwork rather than confining conservation messaging to lectures, the university hopes to build lasting habits among the next generation of Kashmir’s environmental stakeholders, an approach that officials say will be extended to other heritage and tourist sites in the Valley in the coming months.
