Innovate to keep valley clean: Jammu and Kashmir CM’s brother Tassaduq Mufti

PAMPORE: Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s brother, Tassaduq Mufti, has expressed concern over increasing pollution in Kashmir which he said could be as bad as in Berlin after World War II and called for measures to prevent further degradation of the environment.

Mufti, coordinator of the chief minister’s grievance cell, urged young entrepreneurs to come up with innovations to make the immediate environment clean and liveable while pressing for eco-friendly development.

“Our air and water quality has deteriorated. We are moving towards Delhi’s condition at a fast pace. We need to introspect and the biggest challenge is how to stop this deterioration,” Mufti said, addressing a conference on ‘Creating an Ecosystem for Startups’ at Entrepreneurs Development Institute at Pampore, which is famous for its saffron fields. The programme was organised in collaboration with NITI Aayog, the Centre’s premier think tank.

Mufti, who was the ruling PDP’s candidat e for South Kashmir parliamentary election that was postponed indefinitely due to the volatile political situation, said that people in Kashmir should look beyond government jobs and find innovative ways to engage with sustainable future.

“Are we making the future of children better than what was given to us? Our situation could be as bad as was of Berlin after the World War. So, how do we foster creativity in this environment? We must think of problems surrounding us and give ideas to make this place better for living,” Mufti said.