Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram implement GRAP Stage 2 to combat air pollution

Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram implement GRAP Stage 2 to combat air pollution

Under this, the air quality panel has asked the authorities in the NCR region to increase parking fees to discourage private transport. The air quality in Delhi is likely to dip and enter the “very poor” category on October 23 and 24 due to unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions, the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology have said, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to invoke Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan measures. These anti-pollution measures will be implemented in the entire…

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Kashmir Faces Power Shortage as Dry Spell Reduces Hydropower Output

Kashmir Faces Power Shortage as Dry Spell Reduces Hydropower Output

With prolonged dry spell leading to the reduction in water level in most of the water bodies across the Valley, the Kashmir-based power houses are generating less electricity, prompting the government to go ahead with power curtailment, causing immense hardships to the people. Pertinently, August and September—2023 has recorded deficient rainfall while the hot and humid weather conditions continued for weeks together, breaking the decades old record in the month of September. The hot and humid weather conditions resulted in reduction in water level in the famous water bodies including…

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Pahalgam’s tourism carrying capacity exceeded, leading to environmental degradation and social disruption

Pahalgam's tourism carrying capacity exceeded, leading to environmental degradation and social disruption

Pahalgam’s environment and culture under threat from tourism By : Javid Amin Pahalgam, nestled in the picturesque region of Jammu and Kashmir, India, has long been renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty. Its lush mountains, meandering rivers, and verdant forests have made it a favored tourist destination. However, in recent years, Pahalgam has encountered a host of challenges, primarily centered around environmental degradation and the growing issue of overtourism. Foremost among these challenges is environmental degradation, stemming from several interconnected factors. Deforestation, driven by logging and land clearance, poses a…

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Persistent Heatwave in Kashmir: Receding River Levels Impact Apple Quality

Persistent Heatwave in Kashmir: Receding River Levels Impact Apple Quality

Dry weather and above normal temperatures in Kashmir over seven weeks have adversely affected horticulture production, particularly apple, but have proved good for paddy crop, experts said. The weather has also led to a fall in the water level of Jhelum and other water bodies. Kashmir is India’s largest apple grower, producing around 20 lakh metric tonnes of apples every year. They added that if the rain scarcity continues, it will have a negative impact on Saffron and potato production in the region. The Valley is experiencing high temperatures with…

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Kashmir’s summer capital records hottest September day in 53 years

Kashmir's summer capital records hottest September day in 53 years

The previous record was of 33.8-degree C recorded on September 1, 1970 Tuesday’s maximum temperature at 34.2-degree Celsius in Srinagar has broken a 53-year-old record. Sonam Lotus, Director at the local MeT department said that the present severe heatwave in Kashmir has broken the 53-year-old record in Srinagar where the maximum temperature was recorded at 34.2-degree Celsius on Tuesday. “Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 34.2-degree C, which is 6-degree above normal. It has broken a 53-year-old record of 33.8-degree C recorded on September 1, 1970. The all-time highest September…

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Urbanization: A major threat to remaining water bodies in Kashmir’s capital

Study shows that 50% of small and big waterbodies have vanished over past century By: Hilal Mir Mughli Sidiq Mir, 88, from the Zaldagar area of old Srinagar, nostalgically recalls the days when her family would board a boat at Brari Nambal, a wetland about a mile from her home, for a ride to the city’s iconic Dal Lake. The boat would row through a network of interconnected waterways before reaching its destination. Remnants of the aquatic route Mughli reminisces about still exist, but the boat rides stopped decades ago.…

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Kashmir swelters in record-breaking heat wave, experts blame climate change

Kashmir swelters in record-breaking heat wave, experts blame climate change

Erratic weather conditions outcome of climate change, says expert; prolonged dry spell led to prevalent weather conditions, says MeT; Sgr among 3 Kashmir parts surpass decades old day temperature; some relief expected after Sep 15 Owing to the climate change in Kashmir, the prolonged dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir parts has presently resulted in severe heat wave conditions, breaking the decades old records in the month of September here in the Union Territory. With no active Monsoon activity and also the absence of the Western Disturbance, there has been…

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Kashmir braces for hot, dry weather this week, Srinagar records hottest September day in 18 years

Kashmir braces for hot, dry weather this week, Srinagar records hottest September day in 18 years

Kashmir is experiencing a heat wave, which is expected to continue for the next one week, meteorological department (MeT) officials said on Sunday. The weather was mainly clear in Kashmir with relatively hot and humid conditions, while the skies were partly cloudy in the Jammu region. MeT’s local centre director Sonam Lotus said both Kashmir and Jammu regions are experiencing above normal temperatures, adding, “The same weather will likely continue for a week. A heatwave prevailed in plains of Kashmir, Qazigund and Kokernag,” The day temperatures in Kashmir were 3-6…

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