All of us know that a city is not made livable by roads, malls or tall buildings. Rather it becomes livable when air is clean; water is safe; old trees still offer shade; birds are heard at dawn; children can walk without fear of stray dogs; and daily travel does not become an exhausting struggle. That is what real progress looks like.

Srinagar has always been a city blessed by nature. Every season changes the city into a different painting. Perhaps few places in the world are as naturally beautiful as Srinagar. Yet beauty alone cannot guarantee a livable future.The question is simple: Will Srinagar remain livable ten years from now? The answer depends not on what the government will do. It largely depends on how every one of us behaves.

Srinagar is growing rapidly. It’s getting choked. New colonies are appearing every year. More vehicles are occupying the roads. Open spaces are disappearing without notice. Wetlands are shrinking. Concrete is replacing green. Streams are turning into dumping sites. The skyline is changing faster than the........

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