Category: Environment

Environment

Desilting operation in Jhelum from September

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While Jhelum’s fury is still haunting the people of Kashmir, the recurrence of floods this year has delayed de-silting of the river. Although, government of India has sanctioned Rs 399 crore for dredging of the river, the Irrigation and Flood Control department says dredging would be started in a major way after September this year. Talking to us, Chief Engineer, I&FC, Javid Jaffar said it is not possible to go for major dredging operations in the summer months as the water level is high. “Further, post floods ground water level…

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200 development projects in JK await Forest dept clearance

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More than 200 proposed developmental works in Jammu and Kashmir, mostly road projects, are awaiting clearance by the Forest department, an official document has revealed. The document accessed reveals that 215 projects to be taken up by the Roads & Buildings department, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana’s implementing agency and Irrigation and Flood Control Department are awaiting the necessary forest clearance or have got stuck up due to allied issues. In a communiqué, Nodal Officer for Forest Conservation Act in the office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) has…

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‘ Receding glaciers’ will affect JK’s economy, hydropower potential: Report

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Glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir are receding and the state government should initiate “ corrective measures” in this regard, an official report has revealed. The State Action Plan on Climate Change Report says the government should promote operation of solar- driven transport system in eco fragile environs and tourist destinations in the Valley. “ Use of vehicles by locals as well as forces in upper regions of the Valley and helicopter services to fragile zones are among numerous causes of depletion of glacial mass in J& K as emission of…

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Kashmir to become hotspot of Global Warming

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• Gulmarg, Pahalgam could show a rise of 4-7 degrees Celsius by century’s end: Study • ‘Climate change may lead to sweeping vegetation changes in Valley’ Kashmir valley is heading towards a widespread transformation in its flora population due to global warming which could jeopardise water resources and species unique to the Himalayan region, a study has warned. Researchers from University of Kashmir, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Bangalore estimated the maximum and minimum temperatures in two stations they studied, Gulmarg and Pahalgam, could show…

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‘Climate change cause of freaky weather in Kashmir’

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Prominent environmentalist Sunita Narain on Monday said the freaky weather in Kashmir is clear indicator of climate change in the Himalayan region and maintained that the pattern may worsen in the coming years. “There have been 11 cloudbursts in Kashmir during past few months. Now this unusual natural phenomena is becoming ‘normal.’ The frequency of freaky weather is increasing. Clearly, this is an indicator of climate change and has affected fragile eco-system here. People will be deeply impacted by it,” Narain said in her lecture on ‘The imperative of environment…

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World glaciers melting at record rates: Study

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A worldwide study has revealed that during 2001 to 2010, glaciers lost ice at an alarming two to three times the average for the 20th century. Such is the scale of ice loss that the scientists predict that even if global warming were to stabilize, the ice loss would continue. Melting glaciers, known to be caused by rising global temperatures, pose a global threat to fresh water systems, like rivers and lakes. Billions of people live in plains fed by glacier and snow melt fed rivers, as in India. If…

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