Category: Environment

Environment

Wular Lake shrinking due to human settlement: Govt

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Government on Monday admitted that Wular Lake has been shrinking due to illegal human settlement over the past few decades. In a written reply to Zafar Iqbal Manhas, Minister for Forests, Choudhary Lal Singh said the net demarcated area of Wular Lake is 130 square kilometres, out of which an area of approximately one square kilometre is under illegal human settlements for the past few decades. “The Wular Lake receives approximately 80 percent water from rivers and streams from the south, central and most parts of North Kashmir. The water…

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‘Hindustan Construction Company polluting our water resources’

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Bandipora village bears costs of Kishanganga Power Project Inhabitants of a Bandipora village are up in arms against Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) for polluting the water resources of the area. Residents of Pazalpora village told Kashmir POST that the company has polluted the main source of water from where the water is supplied to the village for drinking purpose. “Since the work on construction of the 330 megawatt Kishanganga power project started the water resources of the area either started depleting or they got polluted by the heavy machinery used…

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Srinagar records season’s hottest day, Heat wave on in Jammu

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Jammu and Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar on Sunday recorded this season’s highest temperature at 33.5 degrees while the heat wave continued in Jammu where it was 35 degrees. “The maximum temperature in Srinagar was 33.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees above average, which is the highest recorded so far this season. Jammu city recorded 35 degrees as the heat wave continued there unabated,” a Met department official told IANS. “There would be some relief from sweltering heat in Srinagar during the next two to three days although we are not expecting…

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In defence of Kashmir’s unpopular poplars

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Mathematician Fozia Qazi has undertaken a campaign to protect the trees that are in danger of being axed in large numbers in the valley. With around 16 million poplar trees facing the axe in Kashmir Valley following a High Court order, noted mathematician Fozia S. Qazi has started a campaign to “dispel the myths” that led to the systematic felling of the trees synonymous with the Valley landscape for decades. In 2014, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court first banned the sale, purchase and plantation of female Russian poplars (Populus…

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Guv urges pilgrims to shun polythene during yatra

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Governor NN Vohra, Chairman, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), has appealed to pilgrims and all stakeholders of the Amarnath yatra to maintain cleanliness and sanitation in the entire area, from the base camps onwards, to preserve the natural environment. The Governor has particularly requested the stakeholders not to use polythene or any other non-biodegradable materials during the annual pilgrimage, which is scheduled to commence on July 2. Signages are being put up at the two base camps and along the yatra routes to urge pilgrims to respect the environment and…

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Official apathy pushes Khushalsar, Gilsar on verge of extinction

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Failure of authorities to take measures for conservation of Gilsar and Khushalsar lakes in Shaher-e-Khaas has pushed the water bodies on the verge of extinction. Gilsar and Khushalsar are two interconnected lakes which receive waters from Nigeen lake and gradually flows into Anchar lake. Situated between Hawal and Nowshehra areas, these interconnected lakes till few decades ago were one of the major tourist attractions and bird watching sites. However, in absence of conservation, these lakes are bedeviled with encroachments, siltation and pollution. Numerous springs locally called as Mukhta Pokhar and…

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Govt to crackdown on encroachers to protect water bodies

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Vowing to take a “tough stand” against those found encroaching upon pathways and areas of water bodies, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said that the government was serious in making concerted efforts to ensure clearing of the waterways to end fears of disasters in future. Intervening to a question of CPM’s MY Tarigami on flood management during Question Hour in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that there were many reasons for vanishing water bodies, including blockage of movement of water in the tributaries to Jhelum river and lakes in…

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Usman Majeed seek steps to save Wular Lake

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Congress MLA from Bandipora Usman Majeed today cautioned the government against environmental disaster in case immediate efforts were not taken to save Wular Lake, the only freshwater lake in Asia, from further degradation. “A plan is required to remove willow trees and prevent their re-growth in the periphery of the lake,” said Usman Majeed while participating in the discussion on demand for grants for the forest, ecology and environment in the state Assembly here today. “If we lose Wular, it will lead to an ecological imbalance,” he said. The MLA…

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National Green Tribunal bans dumping of debris in Chenab & Tawi

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The National Green Tribunal has taken exception to indiscriminate dumping of soil in rivers Chenab and Tawi for construction of road on the Udhampur to Banihal stretch of the national highway and restrained authorities from throwing any debris in the water bodies. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to Environment Ministry, Ministry of Roads Transport and Highways, Jammu and Kashmir government, Hindustan Construction Company Ltd, Gammon India Ltd, state pollution control board, District Magistrates of Ramban and Udhampur and others while seeking their reply within…

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Kashmir University initiates process to axe Russian poplars

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Officials said the process to put all Russian poplars in the campus to auction for their felling has been started and a committee in this regard has already been constituted on directions of Vice-Chancellor, Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi. Realizing the hazardous effects of Russian poplars on public health, the Kashmir University has initiated the process to axe such trees in the campus. Officials said the process to put all Russian poplars in the campus to auction for their felling has been started and a committee in this regard has already…

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