The Valley is facing an imminent flood threat as the snow on mountains is melting fast due to the rising temperature and the water bodies are flowing at higher than normal level for the past few weeks. The Jhelum has been flowing near the danger mark, ranging from 13 to 19 feet in Srinagar, since the first week of April. Following the devastating floods of 2014, even moderate rain leads to a flood-like situation in the Valley as the government has failed to clean the Jhelum of silt. The rain…
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Environment
Despite Jhelum posing flood threat, dredging deadlines still not met
With only 1.20 lakh cubic feet dredging having been done in the Jhelum so far against the targeted 17 lakh cubic feet, the river can again cause the havoc that it did in September 2014. The dredging of the river, which had overflown and breached its banks on the night of September 6 and 7, 2014, drowning almost half of the summer capital, should have been completed by December 2015. The Centre had released the funds for the purpose but the political and administrative lethargy combined with corruption at high…
Read MoreAmarnath Yatra being used to facilitate Hindu agenda, change demography of JK: Study
Pilgrimage should be restricted to 15 days There should be limit on pilgrims SASB is state within State A study on Amarnath Yatra by a Bangalore-based NGO and J&K Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) has highlighted the nexus between the corporate houses of India, right wing Hindu groups and the Government of India (GoI) through Shri Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board (SASB) to facilitate the Hindu agenda and change demography of Jammu and Kashmir under the garb of faith. The report, ‘Amarnath Yatra: a Militarized Pilgrimage’ compiled by ‘Equations’ – a…
Read More‘Amaranth Yatra now a militarised pilgrimage’ : NGO
Restrict Yatra to its traditional period of 15 days: JKCCS Terming the Amarnath Yatra as a militarised pilgrimage, Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society Thursday alleged that Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has been acting as ‘state’ within the state. JKCCS said that the SASB Act needs to be repealed, or amended bearing in mind secular, constitutional tenets. “The SASB which functions like a state within the state needs to be reformed such that it plays only an implementing role with final decision making reposed with the JK government. JKCCS…
Read MoreJhelum gasps for breath as silt deposition swells
Expert says high time to increase its carrying capacity Continuous rains for few days are enough for Jhelum water to touch the danger mark as presence of silt in the river has decreased its carrying capacity, experts said on Friday, day after the J&K government declared flood in the Valley. A hydraulics expert said for the past several decades, layers of silt have deposited beneath the Jhelum water but the department of Irrigation and Flood Control has not maintained any data on this which could help in reaching at some…
Read MoreEvolve plan for restoration of Dal Lake: HC to Panel
Govt to present vision document prepared by IIT-Roorkee before committee The J&K Government has informed the High Court that a ‘vision document’ about the preservation of Dal Lake is being prepared by IIT-Roorkee, which will be put before the high-level Scientific Advisory Committee for consideration. Taking note of the vision document, the court has directed the Monitoring Committee and the Scientific Advisory Committee to evolve an action plan as to how the restoration of Dal Lake should be taken in a scientific manner. These directions have been issued by a…
Read MoreRains lash plains, Fresh snowfall in upper reaches
The upper reaches of the Valley including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg experienced fresh snowfall on Tuesday while plains including Srinagar were lashed by rains. A weather department official said ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, Shopian in south Kashmir and upper reaches of Banihal, Jawahar Tunnel, Ramban and Patnitop areas experienced fresh snowfall today. Srinagar and other plains of the Valley experienced rainfall, he said. The Weather department has predicted widespread rain or snow at many places till weekend under the influence of Western Disturbance which hit…
Read MoreHangul population dwindles from 5000 to 186, Sheep breeding farm found culprit
As State’s animal Hangul’s population has drastically dwindled from 5000 to 186 species, the Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered immediate shifting of Sheep breeding farm from eco-fragile Dachigam National farm to save Hangul for extinction. Sources informed Kashmir Post that the decision to shift Sheep Breeding farm from Dachigam National park was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, B. R Sharma which was attended by the commissioner secretaries of both Animal and Sheep Husbandry and Forest Department. “Directions have been passed to the Sheep Husbandry…
Read MoreLAWDA demolishes huts within Nigeen Lake
Continuing with the demolition drive, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority through its Enforcement Wing demolished three wooden huts which were raised illegally at Nigeen Lake in brazen violation of High Court directions. During the demolition drive, one squad member got injured. Meanwhile, the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority has warned the people against raising illegal structures in and around the Dal and Nigeen lakes. Despite repeated warnings, people are trying to raise illegal constructions around the Dal and Nigeen lakes. LAWDA has asked them not to raising such constructions and…
Read MoreValley to witness another spell of rain and light snowfall
A three-day long spell of rain and snow was forecast for Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday as an overcast night sky caused night temperatures to rise. “There is a likelihood of isolated to widespread rain in the plains during this period while light snowfall is likely to occur in the mountains,” an official of the MET department said. The minimum temperature recorded in Srinagar on Tuesday was 4.8 while Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded minus 0.2 and minus 2.6 respectively. Leh recorded minus 4.6 while it was minus 5.2 in Kargil.…
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