Category: Environment

Environment

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

Editor

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

Editor

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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LAWDA floats over troubled waters

Editor

Illegal constructions go unabated Water channel filled with soil in Dal, officials in slumber In brazen violation of State High Court orders, massive encroachment is taking place in famed Dal Lake with ‘influential’ people extending encroachments in connivance with the officials of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA). Ironically a water channel in the interiors of the Dal stretching from Chowdhary Bagh to Daga Mohalla has been filled up with soil and structures have been started coming up there. According to local news gathering agency CNS, the officials from…

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Proposal of ‘mini dams’ on Jhelum offshoots to avert 2014-like flood

Editor

The J&K Government is contemplating to build “mini dams” on tributaries of river Jhelum to offload pressure on the water body in extreme situations and avert the 2014-like floods in Kashmir in future. The Flood Control Department Kashmir has started a feasibility exercise in this regard and is mulling to rope in expertise at international level for construction of water storage facilities, within the provisions of Indus Water Treaty, to address Kashmir’s vulnerability to floods. Chief Engineer of the Department JavedJaffer said the storage facilities would handle additional discharge from…

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Commissioner secys of 3 depts told to be present in court today

Editor

DAL LAKE CONSERVATION The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought personal appearance of the Commissioner Secretaries of the Planning, Finance and Housing and Urban Development Departments tomorrow to explain the conduct of the government as for the conservation of the Dal Lake is concerned. The directions were passed today by a division bench of Justice Hasnain Masoodi and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey after perusal of the compliance report submitted by Lakes and Waterways Development Authority vice-chairman Sarmad Hafiz, who was present in the court today. The Lakes and Waterways…

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