Category: Environment

Environment

Climate Change and its causes

Editor

It is March in Kashmir and sun is shining with full pace rejoicing people, but despairing experts. Apart from very less snowfall this winter, it has struck fear among the people and experts that agriculture activities might be impacted this season which contributes major part of economy in Kashmir. The fourty day long Chilai Kalan (harsh wintry days) which was expected to receive highest snowfall has not received a single flake of snow. Kashmir has witnessed the hottest day in February in 76 years as mercury roses to 20.6 degree…

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Wular lake safe haven for timber smugglers

Editor

The smugglers in Bandipora have been ferrying timber through Wular lake for a long time allegedly due to the official connivance. Local resident of  Nadihal, Garoora, Kema, Aloosa, Khenusa and  adjoining areas told that the smugglers use the river route to ship the timber in connivance with the officials of Forest Protection Force (FPF). The forest cover is fast dwindling here as timber smugglers are using Wular Lake to smuggle the green gold with Forest department unable to curb the practice.  The timber smuggling, according to residents, even takes place…

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Anti-polythene drive at Lal Chowk

Editor

In a bid to aware masses about the hazards of using polythene, an Anti-Polythene Campaign under “Go Green Srinagar” was organised by Earth Day Network, USA, Department of Environment, Ecology and Remote Sensing, Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Youth Parliament of Jammu and Kashmir at Lal Chowk Srinagar. The event was supported by Sanctuary Asia and Wildlife Conservation Fund. The local commuters were enlightened about the various hazards of polythene. Impact of using polythene (non-biodegradable) on soil, water and air was instilled among the by passers and local shop keepers. Besides…

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HC concerned over lack of sensitivity towards Dal

Editor

Says lake will be non-existent if measures are not taken for its preservation Taking a strong note of the “lack of sensitivity” on part of the authorities, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today said the world famous Dal Lake, which is shrinking and dying, will be non-existent in the near future if immediate steps for its preservation are not taken. “From 2002, this court has made earnest and vigorous efforts to ensure preservation of the world famous Dal Lake. Because of the lack of sensitivity on part of some…

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Kishen Ganga wildlife sanctuary project in limbo

Editor

The proposed Kishen Ganga Wildlife Sanctuary project is in limbo despite getting the nod from Government of India to declare compartments of Gurez Forest Range of Forest Territorial Division Bandipora as “ Wildlife Protected Area” since the area has rich flora and fauna. These compartments included compartment number: k/ 42, k/ 45, k/ 46, k/ 47a, k/ 47b, k/ 48, k/ 49, parts of k/ 50, k/ 51b, k/ 51c, k/ 52, k/ 53, k/ 54, k/ 55 and k/ 56 of Gurez Forest Range comprising an area of 108.22…

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Guv to review dredging of Jhelum

Editor

Running behind the schedule, the Irrigation and Flood Control Department may have to answer some tough questions as Governor NN Vohra is scheduled review the dredging work in the Jhelum during his day-long visit to Kashmir on Tuesday. It has been 17 months since the devastating floods hit the Valley in 2014, but the authorities concerned are yet to carry out the full-fledged dredging of the river. Last month, a Kolkata-based firm was roped in by the government to carry out the pending work. An official acknowledged that so far…

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The shrinking Wular lake a matter of concern

Editor

All is not well with Wular Lake in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, which has been identified as one of the 26 Ramsar sites in the country. Over the past many decades, it has suffered heavily due to siltation, conversion of 40 per cent of the lake area into agricultural land, pollution from fertilisers, highly degraded catchment area and encroachment along its banks. These factors have reduced the size of the lake from 157 sq km in 1911 to 86 sq km in…

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Jhelum embankment stretch crumbles at Shivpora

Editor

A large stretch of embankment of river Jhelum at Shivpora here crumbled due to rains last night. Shivpora was one of the worst affected areas during devastating floods in September 2014. Authorities had plugged breaches, however due to rains, a vast stretch of embankment has caved in. The locals mince no words to accuse the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department of failing to strengthen the damaged embankment. “The authorities are focusing on dredging and have failed to permanently repair the embankments,” said a group of locals pointing towards cracks…

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Rs 399 cr to be spent for restoration of Jhelum

Editor

Embankments along Jhelum which the swollen river breached in 2014 causing devastating floods, will be restored and other remedial measures taken up at a cost of Rs 399 crore over the next two years, a senior government official said. “Rs 140 crore will be set aside for land and structure acquisition, Rs 40 crore for building two bridges, Rs 35 crore for dredging and the rest for allied works,” Commissioner Secretary Public Works Rohit Kansal said. Kansal, who took stock of the progress of dredging work of river Jhelum and…

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Deadly reminders: J&K on shaky ground

Editor

• Ominous Signs: From 7 tremors in 2010, the number of earthquakes felt in the State reached 27 in 2015 • 105 minor and major tremors have jolted J&K since 2009 The graph of earthquakes hitting Jammu and Kashmir has reached all time high with 27 tremors felt in the state last year. As per the official data, 105 minor and major tremors have jolted the state since 2009. The threat of earthquake looms large in the state, particularly in the areas coming under Seismic Zone V. As per the…

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