Unplanned, illegal constructions continue unabated in Sonamarg The ‘Meadow of Gold’ Sonamarg is fast losing its charm, thanks to the failure of the successive governments to prevent unplanned and illegal constructions from coming up at the world famous tourist resort. A number of concrete structures- including hotels, restaurants and even residential houses- have sprouted in Sonamarag. “These days Sonamarg seems to be turning into a residential colony due to the mushroom growth of unplanned constructions in recent past,” a local resident said. “Many influential people who had sought permission for…
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Environment
Authorities sit on Jhelum encroachments
Restoration of river Jhelum has hit a roadblock as authorities have failed to take measures for removal of encroachments from its banks. Encroachments dot the river embankments at various places in the summer capital. In absence of any regulation, many hutments have come up on river banks at Pandrethan, Pampore, Chattabal and Qamarwari and its adjoining areas. “These hutments not only affect aesthetic beauty of Jhelum but also weaken its embankments. In case of rise in the river’s water level, there is risk that adjoining habitations can be submerged,” said…
Read MoreStudy reveals unique behaviour of captured wild animals
With man-animal conflict on the rise in Kashmir, a first-of-its-kind scientific study has thrown light on the newer aspects of this conflict and the behaviour of the captured wild animals in the region. The research on captured Asiatic black bears at Dachigam by four wildlife scientists has revealed that wild animals venture out from the protected areas to human-dominated landscape during early springs and late autumn months in search of food as these areas have availability of high quality food than their natural habitats, which is forest and protected areas.…
Read MoreWould Kashmir’s autumnal grandeur be lost to urbanization greed?
As ripening paddy fields impart a magical golden-brown magnificence to the countryside, the soothing autumnal sun shines to confirm that the season of plenty has arrived in Kashmir – as an environmental disaster looms. From paddy, maize, apples, grapes and pears – all the yearly labour of local farmers and orchardists is readying to be harvested. “Almost all the marriages ceremonies in the past would be held after the harvesting period in the Valley,” Nisar Hussain, 64, a retired chief engineer, told IANS. “The poor farmer would get his return…
Read MoreCM orders realignment of 388 houseboats in Dal Lake
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 MoreJhelum continues to shrink due to illegal encroachments
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 MoreMitigation measures yet to take off for future floods
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 MorePHE to spend Rs 13 lakh on half marathon, forgets desilting of water bodies!
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 MoreClimate change may decrease JK’s hydropower generation: Report
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 MoreGovt puts Brari Nambal restoration on backburner
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…
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