As citizens we too have responsibility not to violate the scenic beauty of our forests
I don’t think it is judicious to blame Gulmarg-Sonamarg development authorities or the administration alone but we must look beyond the government authorities as we being citizens are equally responsible for the deterioration of Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Baba-Reshi tourists sites.
These sites have been made dumping places for heaps of garbage scattered throughout these places which welcome visitors instead of the scenic natural beauty of Kashmir.
As a conscious common citizen, I would never blame administration alone for garbage mess as we too have responsibility to keep an eye on such issues which violate, destroy the scenic beauty of these forests by intruding in the flora and fauna of these lush green forests being an asset for all of us as a whole community.
When we can keep our houses, footpaths clean, when we plant trees in our lawns, why can’t we take care of these tourist places for attracting more and more tourists to enjoy the Valley’s natural beauty which is one of the main sources of our economy besides livelihood of many people associated with this sector directly or indirectly.
Some days back on my way from Srinagar to Gulmarg and then to Baba-Reshi, I was shocked to see the heaps of garbage dumped in the lush green forests which has polluted the most attractive perfumed sky with tall pine trees as if these pine trees were virtually representing their cause before the nature about its deterioration, though the forests give relief to everyone and are being harmed for no reason.
I was embarrassed to hear about the views of the people against the administration by exonerating those responsible for damaging the ecological balance of our green gold.
We shift everything on the shoulders of government or the administration but at the same time it too is a fact that the government shows half-hearted approach towards making waste disposal plant functional.
It is a fact that concerned MLAs too have the responsibility to see that whether everything is going on in his constituency properly and without destruction. However, for obvious reasons the MLA concerned seems least bothered about the ecological disaster.
The MLA has been voted for the development and supervision of his constituency and not to make the green forests a place to dump waste.
This is really pathetic and situation needs to be dealt with iron fist. Had the administration acted tough against violators the situation would not have been what it is today.
I would suggest the government to book the hoteliers in the first instance for making the forests as its dumping sites for the hotel garbage as main responsibility lies on them. When a common man can understand the deteriorating situation of the forests caused due to garbage why should the hotel owner shut their eyes knowingly.
What restrains administration to fix responsibility on the hoteliers for making forests as a dumping site for garbage and allowing the hoteliers to walk scot-free like a big boss or they oblige the boss by doing such a filthy acts.
Why he/she should not be booked for the grave negligence and for the lust of earning money at the cost of world famous tourist resorts. In fact government is planning for a dumping site from the past many years but to no avail and I am afraid that such from behavior of the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) in connivance with the hoteliers may turn golf courses into a taxi-stand.
To make money these hoteliers can go to any extent having least concern about the ecological balance and beauty of forests. There must be a multi-pronged approach and mechanism in installing the new innovations for the disposal of hotel waste for which hoteliers should be asked to pay as a long term remedial measure to secure the environment and the jungles.
My intention is never to target hoteliers, any other agency or GDA but before thinking about huge earnings they make, they must pay heed to the deteriorated situation of the tourist resorts.
If the hoteliers can invest millions and millions of rupees for construction to run hotels why can’t they be asked by the government to find out a mechanism for waste disposal as a long term solution.
I hardly rely on so called law makers that hold the key as a public representative as it was their duty to find solutions and to pull-up the GDA for its callous and unwanted approach in destroying the forests presumably for making corruption.
For a common man, it looks nothing less than a mafia run by GDA, hoteliers in connivance with top brass at the helm of affairs.
Unfortunate to say what decisions are being taken in day long board/review meetings proves just their incompetence with that of GDA.
Should hoteliers and the GDA authorities expect CM herself to come and see the follow up actions taken during annual review meetings? If it is so then you have no right to occupy the chairs that ruin the Kashmir’s green gold which is the legacy of Kashmir popularly known as paradise on earth.
The reforms need to be deliberated in the meetings with the authorities at the helm along with the MLA and hoteliers in particular and see the portion of payment to be incurred in making a system for waste disposal which should be made mandatory for hoteliers.
When people can pay handsomely to hoteliers during their stay in any hotel why can’t the hotelier pay for waste disposal in a scientific manner.
It will be a miracle if we as conscious citizens can just exert and join hands with the GDA and the administration for giving viable solution for saving forests from further disaster otherwise it will be too late to save our forests if we remain confined to meetings only.
Let me reiterate that all those Hoteliers should be booked without any reservation or compulsion responsible for damaging the green forests, forest-land grabbers both in Tangmarg, Baba-Reshi and Sonamarg as well.
It has now become imperative for the SDM being the guardian of these places to save these places before being turned into concrete. Please stop issuing NOCs in absences of a scientific system for waste disposal to the hoteliers.
Mohammad Farooq Wani -hjfarooq@rediffmail.com
