Environment Archives | Kashmir POST

The Glacier of Pahalgam: A Breathtaking Natural Wonder

September 27, 2023September 27, 2023 Editor

It is a part of Himalayan range and is located some 26 kilometres north of Pahalgam By: Mohammad Jalal-Ud-Din One of the great problems world confronts today is its self-begotten woe of environmental pollution. Summarily the environmental pollution is the summative result of harmful activities of man against nature. This is somewhat paraphrased into air, soil/land, water, noise, thermal and radioactive pollutions. Of this air pollution is the main type threatening the environment, plants, humans, animals and all living organisms. This effects our glacial reserves also. Kolahoi glacier, which some…

Pahalgam’s tourism carrying capacity exceeded, leading to environmental degradation and social disruption

September 24, 2023 Editor

Pahalgam’s environment and culture under threat from tourism By : Javid Amin Pahalgam, nestled in the picturesque region of Jammu and Kashmir, India, has long been renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. Its lush mountains, meandering rivers, and verdant forests have made it a favored tourist destination. However, in recent years, Pahalgam has encountered a host of challenges, primarily centered around environmental degradation and the growing issue of overtourism. Foremost among these challenges is environmental degradation, stemming from several interconnected factors. Deforestation, driven by logging and land clearance, poses a…

Climate change to bring more extreme weather events to Kashmir, including September heatwaves

September 17, 2023 Editor

By: Wahid Bhat Kashmir is currently experiencing an unprecedented heatwave in September, shattering long-standing temperature records due to an ongoing dry spell that has persisted for the last 45 days. Srinagar, on September 12th, recorded a scorching maximum temperature of 34.2°C, a staggering 6.0°C above the normal seasonal average. This marks the second-highest maximum temperature ever recorded in September since the establishment of the weather observatory in 1891. The previous record of 33.8°C dated back to September 1, 1970, with an all-time high of 35.0°C set on September 18, 1934.…

Kashmir Heat Wave Worsens, Leaves Locals and Tourists Struggling

September 16, 2023 Editor

Kashmir is reeling from a heat wave after the valley earlier this week witnessed the second-hottest September day in recorded history, causing hardships to locals and tourists alike. On Tuesday, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 34.2 degrees Celsius, six degrees above normal, the met office (Srinagar) deputy director Mukhtar Ahmed told PTI. He said it was the second-highest maximum temperature ever recorded in September since 1891, when the weather observatory was established. Ahmed said it broke a 53-year-old record of 33.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on September 1, 1970. The…

Urbanization: A major threat to remaining water bodies in Kashmir’s capital

September 13, 2023 Editor

Study shows that 50% of small and big waterbodies have vanished over past century By: Hilal Mir Mughli Sidiq Mir, 88, from the Zaldagar area of old Srinagar, nostalgically recalls the days when her family would board a boat at Brari Nambal, a wetland about a mile from her home, for a ride to the city’s iconic Dal Lake. The boat would row through a network of interconnected waterways before reaching its destination. Remnants of the aquatic route Mughli reminisces about still exist, but the boat rides stopped decades ago.…

Kashmir swelters in record-breaking heat wave, experts blame climate change

September 13, 2023 Editor

Erratic weather conditions outcome of climate change, says expert; prolonged dry spell led to prevalent weather conditions, says MeT; Sgr among 3 Kashmir parts surpass decades old day temperature; some relief expected after Sep 15 Owing to the climate change in Kashmir, the prolonged dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir parts has presently resulted in severe heat wave conditions, breaking the decades old records in the month of September here in the Union Territory. With no active Monsoon activity and also the absence of the Western Disturbance, there has been…

Kashmir braces for hot, dry weather this week, Srinagar records hottest September day in 18 years

September 11, 2023 Editor

Kashmir is experiencing a heat wave, which is expected to continue for the next one week, meteorological department (MeT) officials said on Sunday. The weather was mainly clear in Kashmir with relatively hot and humid conditions, while the skies were partly cloudy in the Jammu region. MeT’s local centre director Sonam Lotus said both Kashmir and Jammu regions are experiencing above normal temperatures, adding, “The same weather will likely continue for a week. A heatwave prevailed in plains of Kashmir, Qazigund and Kokernag,” The day temperatures in Kashmir were 3-6…

The Lingering Threat of 2014-Like Floods in Kashmir: Environmental Dangers Looming Large

September 7, 2023 Editor

Rapid urbanization in Kashmir, encroachment of water bodies and adjoining river banks and disappearance of wetlands have disrupted the natural drainage patterns By: Khurshid Ahmed Ganai The recent report of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has called for taking more corrective measures to prevent 2014 flood-like disasters. The report has mentioned ‘haphazard developmental activities and infrastructure projects being implemented without sufficient consideration of environmental safety and sustainability.’ Then it has picked ‘mining operations on the flood plains of river Jhelum, construction of railway lines and poorly planned urbanization’…

Srinagar: A city in need of sustainable development

September 6, 2023 Editor

Ensure implementation of Climate Resilient City Action Plan for the summer capital By: Arif Shafi Wani Blessed with lakes, wetlands, gardens and mountains, Srinagar is one the major tourist attractions in Jammu and Kashmir. However, haphazard development, especially in past over three decades, has disturbed eco-system of the bustling city. Spread over 246 sq.km, Srinagar is the largest populated city in J&K with a population of 1.50 million people. The city is the main hub of tourism and trade activities. For centuries, Srinagar has been the abode of all rulers…

The Time To Act Is Now: Protect Mountains States from Climate Crisis

September 5, 2023September 5, 2023 Editor

Addressing the Climate Crisis in India’s Mountain States: The Urgent Need for New Infrastructure Policies By: Javid Amin The mountain states of India find themselves at the forefront of a growing climate crisis. Recent catastrophic events in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand serve as stark reminders of the pressing need for immediate action to safeguard these vulnerable regions. The impact of the climate crisis is being felt through increasingly severe weather events, including floods, landslides, and droughts. These events result in extensive damage to critical infrastructure, displacement of communities, and a…