Environment Archives | Page 43 of 47

Ragpickers get tips on segregation of waste material

November 19, 2015 Editor

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) in association with a non-governmental organisation is training ragpickers for effective collection of segregated garbage. “The SMC in association with Chintan, an NGO involved in the betterment of environment through the solid waste management, has involved ragpickers assisted by the Municipal waste collectors for segregating waste at household level,” said an SMC official. The official said trainers from Chintan had already started providing training to the local waste collectors and ragpickers for effective collection of segregated garbage from households. He said it would help the…

Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project a BOOM Or a Disaster in Making

November 16, 2015November 16, 2015 Editor

Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project a BOOM Or a Disaster in Making The famous Kishanganga project has already casted its shadow over flora & fauna of district Bandipora, which includes the famous Wullar Lake, centuries old pines are being cut and all ironically done at the cost of development. Sane voices are worried that serene environ of Bandipora , Water bodies are being polluted, rare fish species are dying due to poisonous discharges from the project sites. All these activities are going under the noose of district administration, who is terming this disaster as…

Govt has ‘no funds’ to save Kashmir from floods

November 12, 2015 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir government seems to have not learnt any lessons from the devastating floods of 2014 as it has failed to carry out dredging in river Jhelum and removing encroachments on its banks despite passing of a year since the deluge wreaked havoc in Kashmir. Experts had warned the government to carry out dredging of the river and its tributaries on fast-track basis as the floods had brought in tonnes of silt. But as per officials in the irrigation and flood control department, the opportunity to carry out the…

Wular Lake shrinks as residents resort to encroachments

November 7, 2015 Editor

The Wular Lake has shrunk in size and its water carrying capacity has been reduced as government has failed to work out conservation measures. The illegal constructions, garbage dumping and massive silting of the lake has hampered the conservation efforts. Due to the widespread encroachments, the lake left many areas inundated in the floods last September. The massive silting of the lake and dumping of waste by local bodies and growing encroachments in absence of proper government monitoring has left the lake piolluted. As per official records 20 villages with…

Choked funds, choked water bodies

November 5, 2015 Editor

Without dredging, flood threat looms large as silt chokes rivers, flood channels After the calamitous flood of September 2014, the rivers and flood channels of Kashmir were choked by silt. In the official analyses that followed, diverse authorities recommended additional flood channels in order to avoid a recurrence of the devastating floods. All these plans remain confined to files. The Government of India (GoI) has not provided funds required for this urgent project, pushing Kashmir toward dangers. “Our department had proposed the development of a new flood channel in Kashmir…

69 wildlife officials are guarding 2,50,000 migratory birds in Kashmir

November 5, 2015 Editor

Avian visitors have been making their annual tryst with Kashmir valley for centuries now Avian guests from Eastern Europe, Siberia, China, Philippines and other areas have already started arriving in Kashmir this year at the turn of season. To ward off the extreme cold of their summer homes, as many as 2,50,000 migratory birds including mallards, common teals, pintails, coots, and gadwalls have reached the Hokarsar Wetland, on the outskirts of Srinagar to spend the winter months in the valley. Avian visitors have been making their annual tryst with Kashmir…

SPCB’s adverse report doesn’t stop kiln operation in Budgam

November 4, 2015 Editor

3 brick kilns operate on horticultural land; authorities unmoved Authorities have failed to cancel the licenses of three brick kilns and suspend their “illegal” operations on the horticultural land since last year at village Gariend Khurd in Budgam district. Despite resentment from the local residents three brick kilns have been set up on the 1500 kanals of horticulture land at the cost of thousands of apple, almond and other fruit trees and are running in brazen violation of The Jammu and Kashmir Brick Kilns (Regulation) Act, 2010. Locals allege that…

Migratory birds keep tryst with Kashmir

November 2, 2015 Editor

A riot of colour and cackle has returned to the wetland reserves of Jammu and Kashmir with the first arrivals of thousands of migratory birds from far off lands this year. Migratory birds from Siberia, China, the Philippines, Eastern Europe and other areas arrive here every year to spend winter months in the Kashmir Valley to ward off the extreme cold of their summer homes. “We start receiving the first flights of the avian visitors in the first week of October. The arrivals continue till February,” Imtiyaz Lone, the Wetland…

Govt to set up herbal gardens in schools

October 31, 2015 Editor

The Education Department has decided to set up herbal gardens in government-run schools where there is extra land available for such activities. This was announced by Minister for Education Naeem Akhter during his visit to the Forest Department nursery at Kralsangri here today.

Heritage sites decaying after repeated disasters

October 28, 2015 Editor

Heritage sites in the Kashmir valley are decaying due to continuous natural disasters for the past 10 years. However, the government has failed to initiate any measures to preserve such sites. The earthquake that shook the Valley yesterday was another reminder for the government to wake up and preserve such sites. Experts who are involved in preserving these places said there was a need of multiple risk assessment of important monuments in Kashmir. “Earthquake was a reminder that we must take steps to protect such sites. There is a need…