Environment Archives | Page 3 of 41

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…

Kashmir Grapples with Prolonged Dry Spell: 80% of Region Experiencing Moderate to Severe Dryness

September 3, 2023September 3, 2023 Editor

By Faizan Arif Over the past four weeks, Jammu and Kashmir has been grappling with a significant shortfall in rainfall. According to India Meteorological Department data related to the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), approximately 80 percent of the area in Kashmir region (8 out of 10 districts), has been impacted by moderate to extreme dryness between August 3rd and August 30th. The SPI, relying on precipitation data, is a widely utilized index for characterizing meteorological drought on a range of timescales. This index is negative for drought and positive for…

Meteorological Forecast: September expected to be the Driest Month of the Year for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh

September 1, 2023 Editor

This year, May and June saw early and unprecedented heat conditions across J&K. May, June, and July months were the warmest. September would be one of the driest months of the year for Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh as there is no prediction of any major precipitation for the first two weeks of the month. “Climatologically also, September is the driest month of the year for J&K and Ladakh. No significant weather expected for next 2 weeks,” MeT Director Sonam Lotus wrote on X (Formerly twitter) on Thursday.…

Kashmir’s Vulnerability to Earthquakes: Is the Region Prepared for the Next Big One?

August 31, 2023 Editor

Experts warn that the earthquake-prone valley must step up its seismic-resilience game. By: Sajid Raina & Attaul Munim Zahid The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria last year had a profound impact on Kashmir, heightening concerns about the potential devastation caused by earthquakes. This anxiety, although transient in the immediate aftermath of such events, frequently affects the people of Kashmir. From January to June of this year, Jammu and Kashmir experienced 32 seismic events, with magnitudes ranging from 3.2 to 5.4 on the Richter scale. These tremors serve as a stark reminder…

Plastic pollution poses threat to tourism in Kashmir’s border areas

August 28, 2023August 28, 2023 Editor

Tourist Boom in Kashmir’s Border Areas Brings Plastic Pollution Concerns to the Forefront By: Javid Amin Over the past two years, regions such as Keran, Bangus, Tangdhar, Gurez, and Uri along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir have witnessed a remarkable surge in tourist activity. This uptick in tourism can be attributed to the February 2021 ceasefire agreement between the Indian and Pakistani armies, which opened up these areas for visitors. However, with this influx of tourists comes a concerning rise in plastic pollution. Local officials and environmentalists…

Impact of Heavy Rains in Himachal: Urgent Need for New Infrastructure Policies in Mountain States to Combat Climate Crises

August 25, 2023August 25, 2023 Editor

In a distressing turn of events, the recent heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have unveiled a pressing need for new and robust infrastructure policies in mountainous regions, as eight buildings in Kullu district collapsed due to the onslaught of rain-triggered damages. The incident occurred in the Anni area, casting large clouds of dust and debris, but thankfully, there were no casualties reported. The buildings that crumbled had already exhibited cracks and were marked as unsafe following the recent bout of rains. These structures, which housed commercial establishments including shops and…

Supreme Court suggests Expert Panel to study Carrying Capacity of Himalayan Region

August 22, 2023 Editor

The Supreme Court on Monday mooted constituting an expert committee for conducting a “complete and comprehensive” study on the carrying capacity of the Himalayan region in the country, where unplanned development has caused devastation in recent times, terming it a “very important issue”. The carrying capacity is the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain without getting degraded. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was hearing a plea seeking an assessment of the carrying capacity and master plans for the Indian Himalayan Region spanning 13 states…

Kashmir Valley Grapples with Severe Air Pollution Crisis

August 19, 2023 Editor

Govt must seek an explanation from J&K Pollution Control Committee for allowing construction of fresh brick kilns Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat Last year in December the Director of Sher e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences-SKIMS Dr Parvez Koul said that 10,000 deaths were attributed to air pollution in J&K every year. He said that Srinagar City has the highest incidence of lung cancer in India and a large number of people were suffering from chronic lung diseases in J&K. Dr Koul called for an urgent need to act and control…