Category: Environment

Environment

CM orders realignment of 388 houseboats in Dal Lake

Editor

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today ordered the Lakes & Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to immediately undertake realignment of houseboats at Doldum to prevent the untreated sewage from entering the Dal Lake here. He also directed LAWDA to develop a model housing colony with all basic amenities at Rakh-e-Arth so that Dal Lake dwellers could be shifted there without any further delay. He was reviewing the progress achieved under the National Lake Conservation and Management Programme (NLCP), a Rs 298.78-crore project sanctioned by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)…

Read More

Jhelum continues to shrink due to illegal encroachments

Editor

Even after one year of floods, nothing seems to have changed when it comes to removing encroachments along the Jhelum in Kashmir. During September-2014 floods, several residential colonies constructed illegally along the river bank were damaged. The administration had promised to stop such activity. Between September 3 and 7, 2014, heavy rainfall had led to massive flooding in the Jhelum, which breached its banks—six breeches only Srinagar— and devastated several areas. Most of them were built in an illegal way during the last two decades. The blatant violation of the…

Read More

Mitigation measures yet to take off for future floods

Editor

With a series of mitigation measures recommended by experts remaining unimplemented over the past year, the threat of floods remains real in Kashmir. The recommendation and preventive measures to “minimise the risk” associated with floods — suggested by experts and also documented in an official assessment report of the state government — have remained unimplemented even as the Kashmir region is ready to mark the anniversary of last year’s devastating floods. The official report prepared after last year’s deluge by the Indian Space Research Organisation’s National Remote Sensing Centre and…

Read More

PHE to spend Rs 13 lakh on half marathon, forgets desilting of water bodies!

Editor

At a time when the department of Public Health Engineering, Irrigation and Flood Control is yet to start desilting process of water bodies after a year of devastating floods, the PHE department is all set to spend Rs 13 lakh on half marathon. In collaboration with leading FM radio channel, 92.7 BIG FM, PHE department is organizing the first ever ‘international’ half marathon on September 13 “to promote sports and healthy lifestyle” in the Valley. “The total expenditure of the event is around Rs 13 lakh. It is the first…

Read More

Climate change may decrease JK’s hydropower generation: Report

Editor

The demand of electricity in Jammu and Kashmir will touch 19,500 million units by 2020-21, even as “prevalent climate change scenario” in the state is likely to affect its hydropower generation, an official report has predicted. The J&K government’s report—State Action Plan on Climate Change—states that energy demand in the State has gradually increased during the past five years at an annual rate of 5 to 6 percent. “According to 16th All India Power Survey, the power requirement of the state is expected to reach 19,500 million units during 2020-21,”…

Read More

Govt puts Brari Nambal restoration on backburner

Editor

Signifying non-seriousness of the Government to restore the Brari Nambal lagoon in Shaher-e-Khaas, the much-hyped conservation project to salvage the water body is yet to be accorded sanction. The lagoon situated at the entrance of Shaher-e-Khaas is on the verge of extinction mainly due to encroachments and pollution. The problem has been compounded by failure of authorities to undertake its conservation— for past nearly three decades. After years of inordinate delay, the Government last month had made a comprehensive project to undertake restoration of the lagoon. However, despite completion of…

Read More

NIELIT plans to develop flood alert system in Kashmir

Editor

The Rangreth-based National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT, previously DOEACC) plans to develop hi-tech flood alert system in Kashmir, which according to it will give real time alerts on water levels in Jhelum and also caution about floods. This was disclosed by the NIELIT Director AH Moon at the 26th Meeting of the Executive Committee of NIELIT held at its Srinagar center at SIDCO Electronic Complex Rangreth. The event was chaired by Vice- Chancellor Kashmir University, Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi. This center into specialized IT training and research…

Read More

Withered Springs in Pulwama

Editor

After the extinction of more than three dozen fresh water springs in Pulwama’s Inder village many more including famous Indraaz Naag are dying their slow death. Encroachments and unwanted interference pose a threat to many freshwater springs including Indraaz Naag in Inder, a village about 6 Kilometres from Pulwama town. Villagers of Inder said that around 40 springs have become extinct by way of encroachments and unwanted interference from various government agencies. Villagers said that there were more than five dozen springs in Inder. They said that the surviving ones,…

Read More

2 illegal constructions demolished in pahalgam

Editor

A defeated People’s Conference candidate had planned to grab 40 kanals of state land Two illegal structures of a retired government officer and a leader of Peoples Conference (PC) were demolished on Tuesday by the Pahalgam Development Authority. The demolitions were carried out on a day when reported how dozens of illegal structures have been built in Mawura and Yanner areas despite the high court ban on constructions. According to a senior official, both the structures were demolished because they were being raised up in violation of the court orders.…

Read More

‘Ikhwan era’ saw massive annihilation of forests in North Kashmir, recount villagers

Editor

As they recall the dark period when the renegade outfit was operational, these villagers along with experts, wonder if cases against Ikhwanis for plundering of forests in Kashmir should be reopened… A man of good repute and influence in Sumbal, Sonawari and Hajin hamlets of North Kashmir some 20 years back, Nambardar Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Dar vividly remembers unfolding of a dark era that has gone down in history of valley as a dreaded chapter for many of his fellow villagers. Son of former Nambardar and Sarpanch, the sexagenarian man still…

Read More