Category: Environment

Environment

In 100 yrs, Kashmir’s water bodies register 50% loss

Editor

Eco-degradation In 1911, the spatial extent of water bodies was 356.85 sq km, including 271.70 sq km of marshy wetlands and 85.15 sq km of water bodies. By 2011, the lakes and wetlands area had reduced to 158.54 sq km, which included about 117 sq km of marshy wetlands and 41 sq km of water bodies. Some wetlands such as Batmalun Nambal, Rakh-e-Gandakshah and Rakh-e-Arth have been completely lost, while some lakes like Gilsar and Khushalsar have been ecologically degraded. Wetlands in Valley have lost their water absorption capacity due…

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Baglihar reservoir cause for concern

Editor

Fear of impending disaster keeps residents of Doda & Kishtwar districts on tenterhooks Call it a deliberate attitude of the government to remain unaware of the fallout of the Baglihar hydroelectric project reservoir or inability of officers to deal the situation, uncertainty is increasing in the twin districts of Doda and Kishtwar, where the threat of a huge disaster is becoming a major concern for the populace. This 900-MW power project is fast turning the area into a no-habitation zone with huge mountains ‘merging’ into the Chenab slowly and steadily.…

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JK on verge of another natural disaster: Experts

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After suffering the devastating floods in September 2014, Jammu and Kashmir is on the verge of another disaster due to ecological degradation caused by blatant exploitation of natural resources. On the one hand, forest cover in Jammu and Kashmir, which was once known for its green cover, is shrinking with every passing day while on the other, extreme weather phenomena are becoming a routine affair in the fragile Himalayan state. Brisk engineering driven development in hilly areas at the cost of the environment is contributing a lot towards ecological imbalance…

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Rivers up for grabs, govt remains insensitive

Editor

No major policy change to save water bodies in the state since devastating floods last year More than a year has passed since the devastating floods in September 2014 ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, but the state government seems to have forgotten its promise to rein in unabated encroachment along rivers and other water bodies. This was a major reason for destruction which cost the state billions in infrastructure and around 300 precious lives. Despite the Water Resources Regulation Act providing executive powers to the authorities to act against the offenders,…

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Forces destroying forests, environment in Kashmir: Geelani

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Chairman Hurriyat (G) Conference, Syed Ali Geelani Monday said by setting up camps and firing ranges everywhere in Kashmir, army is destroying the forests, water resources, environment and the economy of the poor people and is converting the entire area into a military garrison. He expressed concern and anguish over the demand of Army for notifying Bajpathri forest area close to Yusmarg hill resort in central Kashmir’s Budgam district for its use as an artillery firing range. He also expressed sorrow over the likely nod of the government to the…

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Will Bajpathri be another Tosamaidan?

Editor

The Jammu and Kashmir government has agreed to “expeditiously examine” the Army’s demand for notifying Bajpathri forest area—close to Yusmarg hill resort in central Kashmir’s Budgam district—for its use as an artillery firing range. The Army had taken up the issue during the Civil-Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) headed by Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in September this year. “Noting that the details of the proceedings undertaken so far in regard to the notification of Thambri (Bajpathri) field firing range, it was agreed that Government will expeditiously examine the proposal for…

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Massive construction going on in Gulmarg, tweets Omar

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Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today alleged that massive construction under the guise of “minor repairs” was being carried out in Gulmarg. “It’s terrible to see that under the guise of ‘minor repairs’ massive constructions are being carried out in Gulmarg,” Omar wrote on Twitter. Omar, who is the working president of the opposition National Conference, also accused the authorities of being “complicit” in allowing the constructions. Hotel and other private property owners had sought permission from the Gulmarg Development Authority earlier this year to carry out repairs of their…

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Shrine board mulls disposal of solid waste in eco-friendly way

Editor

Following the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board today discussed the action plan for eco-friendly disposal of solid waste being generated en route the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The shrine board convened a meeting of various stakeholders, including the residents of the Charanpaduka and Banganga areas, at the Spiritual Growth Centre in Katra to work out the action plan with regard to regularisation of equine movement on the track, disposal of mule dung and other solid wastes and cleaning of Banganga. The…

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Flood Aftermath: ‘Winter appropriate time for Jhelum dredging’

Editor

The inaction by authorities to complete the dredging of river Jhelum and the spill channel so as to increase its carrying capacity, has become a cause of concern for local population. Srinagar city bore the brunt of last year’s floods as habitations on both sides of Jhelum were submerged for several weeks. On September 7 last year, the water level in Jhelum broke all records— crossing 33-feet at Sangam at Islamabad (Anantnag) in south Kashmir and 23-feet at Ram Munshi Bagh here. Due to the deluge, tons of silt from…

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Illegal construction resumes in Pahalgam

Editor

Minister’s close aide flouts norms with impunity An influential hotelier has resumed construction work on a commercial complex in violation of the normsat Ganeshpora in Pahalgam allegedly at the behest of a senior cabinet minister. Ganeshpora along with 10 vicinities of Pahalgam like Gujrani Batkoot, Mawoora and Srechan were notified in 2013 and brought within the purview of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA). Official sources in Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) told that the violator is using his political connections to evade action. “It’s open secret, he (violator) is violating the laid…

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