Srinagar, Feb. 11 -- The closure of 158 stone crushers and hot mix plants in Jammu and Kashmir represents an attempt to strike a balance between industrial activity and environmental preservation. For years, unchecked operations have strained the fragile Himalayan ecology, leaving rivers polluted, air filled with dust, and communities exposed to health risks. The government's order, backed by the Pollution Control Committee and grounded in the Air and Water Acts, reflects the principle that economic growth must be aligned with ecological safeguards. It is not simply an administrative measure but a reminder that the environment forms the base upon which all development rests.

Jammu and Kashmir's terrain requires careful management. Its ri...