Surrounded by mountains, J&K has been witnessing frequent earthquakes. Who can forget October 8, 2005 when a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake rattled the region, claiming thousands of lives and causing massive destruction to structures.

A new study links tectonic tearing under the Tibetan Plateau with rising seismic stress across the Himalayas including J&K. The study ‘The Indian Plate subducting below the Tibet Plateau is tearing apart,’ and is authored by Lin Liu, Danian Shi, and Simon L Klempere.

In J&K, located west of the tear (around 74-77°E), the under-plating process described in the study exacerbates concerns of high-intensity earthquakes. J&K falls under Seismic Zone V, the highest risk category in India’s earlier seismic zoning map. The updated 2025 National Seismic Hazard Map by the Bureau of Indian Standards has elevated the entire Himalayan arc, including J&K, to the newly-created Zone VI.

The study reveals that an “orogen-perpendicular tearing” of the Indian plate along a north-south boundary at approximately 90-92°E longitude; West of 90°E, the Indian lithosphere underplates the Tibetan crust intact, extending about 100 km north of the Yarlung-Zangbo suture.

The orogen-perpendicular tearing is a tectonic process where the Indian Plate, while subducting beneath the Tibetan Plateau, splits along the north-south boundary and perpendicular to the mountain range. This causes the lithosphere mantle to delaminate and sink into the mantle, while the crust remains intact.

The new zone classification indicates a peak ground acceleration (PGA) potentially exceeding 0.36g. PGA is the maximum acceleration experienced by the ground during an earthquake, measured in gravitational acceleration (g). It is the key indicator of seismic hazard assessment and a predictor of structural damage.

PGA values up to 0.5g or higher have also been calculated for the region, as identified in a 2025 Frontiers study on Himalayan tunnels. This translates into a significant risk of magnitude 8.0 or more earthquakes.

Active faults like the Main Himalayan Thrust and Main Boundary Thrust, together with the peculiar terrain of the area and glacial instability, add to the hazard risk. The geological and tectonic settings in Himalayan ranges trigger intense tectonic activity affecting the Kashmir basin in North-West Himalaya. At these places, Indian and Eurasian plates collide creating massive mechanical stress which gets released in the form of earthquakes.

The fresh study brings to the spotlight a comprehensive study by prominent United States-based seismologist Roger Bilham— warning that the Kashmir valley could have an earthquake of largest ever magnitude 9. However, he has not specified any timeframe.

Bilham’s study warns that magnitude 9 earthquakes can trigger landslides that would dam the Jhelum River and cause extensive floods in the valley and subsequent destruction.

Based on his Global Positioning System (GPS) data readings, Bilham had detected high movement of rocks in the Zanskar Mountains north of the Kashmir Valley. This, he stated, means that the zone is likely to rupture when a quake eventually happens; could be nearly 200-kilometres wide. The zone would encompass the Kashmir Valley including the city of Srinagar, home to 1.5 million people.

Bilham who visited Kashmir in 2007, has long ago detected that the Indian plate is slowly burrowing under the Tibetan plateau. He reveals that studies on where the relative movement of the Tibetan plateau was slowest indicate where compression is building up, and a rupture is eventually likely to occur. “I expected this to be in the Pir Panchal range, to the south of the Kashmir valley, but instead, it was in the Zanskar range to the north.”

Bilham has warned that “if slippage occurs over a length of 300 kilometres, as is possible, a mega-quake of magnitude 9 is the likely result. Given building codes and population in the region that could mean a death toll of 300,000 people.”

What makes these studies important is that there has been an increase in high tectonic activities in various areas of J&K particularly Pir Panchal region and Chenab Valley. What makes Kashmir valley more vulnerable is that it embodies a typical geomorphological and active tectonic setup with landforms produced or modified by active tectonic processes with distinct surface expressions. Numerous active faults have been identified in Kashmir with the help of remote sensing techniques validated by morphometric and geomorphological investigations.

In this scenario what can the government and people do? We need to understand that earthquakes can strike anytime and there is no mechanism or technology to prevent it. We can only take measures to minimise loss of lives of property by desisting from constructions in eco-fragile areas.

We forget how most of the houses constructed on centuries-old Dhajji-Diwari system, especially in Kashmir have survived earthquakes. These houses, constructed with wood, bricks and mud mortar, are considered quake-resistant due to its flexibility.

There is a need to undertake micro-seismic zoning and prepare comprehensive disaster management plans to be executed during earthquakes. There is no need to panic during earthquakes but we need to be psychologically and physically prepared! We need to understand that earthquakes comprise a natural phenomenon. We must learn to live with earthquakes and build earthquake resilient societies.

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir

The post J&K’s shaky ground! appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The dry spell had severely affected normal life and caused a drought-like situation. With higher reaches receiving heavy snowfall and plain areas witnessing rains, the precipitation is set to recharge our depleting glaciers and water resources. Snowfall in the 40-day period December 21 and January 29 is considered important to regulating glacier health, stream flows which are imperative for maintaining ecological balance.

Till three decades ago, Kashmir’s plain areas including Srinagar used to receive heavy spell of snowfall ranging between 4 to 6 feet. But rising pollution levels coupled with climate change drastically reduced snowfall frequency.

Chillai Kalan used to be a boon for people who used to remain confined to homes due to heavy snowfall. All roads used to be buried under snow. People used to work hard in summer to store essential items mostly Hookh Sioon, sun dried vegetables—having a long shelf life.

Houses in Kashmir were mostly constructed with mud, bricks, and wood as these conserve heat. And the people used traditional cooking and heating methods. They used Daan, a traditional cooking stove made of mud using firewood as fuel. Most of the houses had hamam, a small room, where the floor warmed up by burning firewood.

It is said that in winter, traders from Central Asia used to place orders to Kashmiri artisans mostly for embroidering clothes and shawls besides making wood carving items.

What happened to that winter? For over a decade, we have been witnessing mostly dry and warmer winters. Going beyond global warming and climate change, we need to look into how official apathy and public greed have vandalised the pristine environment of Kashmir.

Not to talk of water bodies, wetlands, springs, we haven’t spared forests and glaciers too. Something is seriously wrong with our ecosystem. We must seriously think about how we are responsible for the erratic climatic patterns in this part of the Himalayas.

Recession of glaciers, which are our main sources of water, is a matter of serious concern. Rapid melting of glaciers is bound to enhance serious implications for regional water availability and hydrological regimes.

J&K Himalayas hosts some of the largest glaciers in the Hindu Kush region. Studies indicate that Kolahoi, the largest glacier of Kashmir valley’s Jhelum Basin, is retreating rapidly due to spurt rise in temperature triggered by global warming and extreme pollution. Thajiwas, Hoksar, Nehnar, Shishram, and glaciers around Harmukh are also retreating slowly.

Amid growing concerns over climate change and increasingly erratic weather patterns, weather-related disasters claimed 199 lives across J&K during 2025, with Jammu division emerging as the worst-affected region in terms of fatalities.

This year, J&K has witnessed 12 extreme weather events. As per the report by the Disaster Management Division of Indian Meteorological Department, 12 extreme weather events were recorded in 2025, higher than any recent year. 2022 had 8 extreme weather events while 6 and 4 were recorded in 2023 and 2024 respectively. In 2024, 535 internal displacements were attributed to dry mass movements, 1513 to hailstorms, and 33 to storms. On the parameters of Forests & Biodiversity and Climate Sub-Categories J&K features in the middle rung states and UTs. It has scored 53 points, crossing the halfway mark, far below Andhra Pradesh, which has scored 68.38 points, and also below all north-eastern states. Among all states and UTs, J&K is at the 24th rank.

In terms of sustainable land use. J&K has failed to uptake the new renewable energy resources and depends solely on old renewable energy sources where, 98 percent of energy comes from old energy sources, while 2 percent is from new renewable energy sources. Not a single Bio-CNG plant is operational in J&K, J&K remains in high Air Pollution graph for the period between January 1, 2021 and March 31, 2025, Srinagar Air Quality was ‘Poor’ for 449 days. Comparatively, the Air Quality during the same period was ‘Good’ only for 339 days. Srinagar recorded 203 days of ‘Satisfactory’ Air Quality in the 1551 days that were studied. The Air Quality also went ‘Severe’ bad for two days in Srinagar.

Like Delhi, Kashmir’s air is extremely polluted with high levels of PM2.5 and PM10 levels in winter. The particulate matter in air is usually blamed on cold weather, dry season besides dust and smoke emanating from roads, carbon fuel burning and construction activities. Studies have shown how vehicular pollution emission causes rise in particulate matter and carbon dioxide in Srinagar city. Emissions inventories show nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide spiking 30 to 40 percent in peak hours in J&K’s summer capital.

Studies have projected that the Kashmir valley will experience more frequent and prolonged droughts in future. The results show that the region will experience more frequent and prolonged dry spells from the mid to end of the 21st century making it a new norm during 2051-2099 due to the climate change. Climate warming will not only affect the retreat patterns but might affect dependent sectors of the economy that include agriculture, hydropower, and tourism in J&K.

Mitigating climate change calls for reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases from cars, power plants and industries into the atmosphere. How important forests are for the environment as they absorb these greenhouse gases, but we leave no stone unturned to vandalise the green gold!

J&K ranks third among the Himalayan areas which are vulnerable to climate change. We need to wake up before it is too late and work for climate change mitigation!

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir.

The post And the dry spell ends…! appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Since childhood Gulmarg has been a favourite haunt for Omar, who is a nature lover and an avid skier. Skiing down alpine slopes of Afarwat Peak, covered with thick powder snow, in the last 50 years, Omar has been witness to the unmatched natural glory of the ski-resort especially in winters. Gulmarg and snowfall used to be synonymous in winters. During a recent tourism related function in the ski-resort, Omar minced no words to blame climate change for stark reduction in snowfall over recent years in J&K including Gulmarg.

Omar pointed out that Gulmarg, surrounded by mountains, used to receive heavy snowfall by mid-December, but recent winters “have seen little to none”, posing a serious challenge to winter tourism. “If we do not adapt, skiing in Gulmarg risks becoming a memory rather than a living tradition,” Omar cautioned. He emphasised the need for technological interventions and advocated adoption of artificial snow-making systems, as practiced in several European ski destinations. The CM also suggested storing rainwater and deploying snow machines when temperatures fall below zero, at least on select slopes, particularly those serviced by newly installed drag lifts.

Slopes of Gulmarg attract skiers from around the globe and it is alarming that we have reached a stage of adopting artificial snow-making systems. This shows the extent of damage climate change has done to the ecosystem.

Omar recalling Gulmarg legacy said skiing was practised in the resort long before the sport gained popularity elsewhere in the country. However, he noted “changing circumstances and climatic shifts had caused Jammu and Kashmir to lag behind other destinations that are now more frequently mentioned in national conversations on trekking, mountaineering and rafting.”

CM rightly shares the concern of people and environmentalists on climate change. The India Meteorological Department (IMD has reported a drastic reduction in snowfall. In the last two months, Kashmir has experienced a 46.63% snowfall deficit. Satellite-based assessments show 23% reduction in snowfall over the past five years with November showing downfall by 40–45% and December by 28%.46.63% deficit in snowfall by December is set to break the previous 50-year old record. Amid prolonged dry spells spreading to the peak winter period, 2025 is projected to be one of the driest years. This season so far Gulmarg, Zojila Pass, Miminarg, Baltal and Tulail received a thin layer of snowfall which otherwise used to be draped by heavy snow spells.

La Nina conditions and the persistent dry spell have led to a drastic dip in temperatures across Kashmir. La Nina is the cold phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle and is known for cooler-than-usual sea surface temperatures in the south and central equatorial pacific. La Nina is set to cause a decrease in mercury and influence winter weather patterns globally including Kashmir.

Environmentalists have warned that less snowfall can spell doom on horticulture, agriculture, glaciers and water bodies. “Kashmir has been experiencing a sustained decline in winter snowfall, largely due to the weakening frequency and intensity of Western Disturbances. Rising winter temperatures over the past few decades have further reduced snow persistence on the landscape by accelerating melt. The region has witnessed four snowless Chillai Kalaans (core winter period) over the last two decades, which is alarming. Episodic extreme events, such as the spring heatwave of 2022 and recurrent above-normal summer-autumn-winter temperatures, have further contributed to increasingly snow-deficient landscapes,” states Dr Irfan Rashid a noted environmentalist and Associate Professor and Head Department of Geo-informatics, University of Kashmir.

Snowmelt accounts for 50 % of streamflow in Kashmir, making winter snowfall critical for sustaining hydrology and water availability. Dr Rashid, who has done extensive studies on climate change, states that any reduction in snow cover or snowfall directly translates into diminished spring and summer runoff. ‘As observed in the past, such changes adversely affect irrigated agriculture, horticultural productivity, and hydropower generation, thereby posing serious challenges to the region’s water security and climate resilience.”

J&K and Ladakh house some of the largest glaciers in the Hindu Kush region. Kolahoi, the largest glacier of Kashmir’s Jhelum Basin, is retreating rapidly due to a spurt in temperature triggered by global warming and extreme pollution. Thajiwas, Hoksar, Nehnar, Shishram, and glaciers around Harmukh are melting fast. Precipitation in form or snow or rains is considered vital to the Kashmir region as it is vital for maintaining hydrology and the region’s water security.

Melting glaciers coupled with less snowfall and rains will subsequently hit our hydropower projects. Snowfall deficit and higher temperatures in winter poses risk of increased cryosphere-related hazards like permafrost degradation triggered slope failures including debris flows, mudflows, and rock falls and also trigger Glacial Lake Outburst Floods. Snowfall between the peak winter period between December 21 and January 29, is considered to be important for regulation.

Studies have predicted that Kashmir valley will experience more frequent and prolonged dry spells from the mid to end of the 21st century making it a new norm during 2051-2099 due to the climate change.

Snow precipitation comprises 52 % of the total annual precipitation and contributes 55 % to the annual streamflow with the peak observed in May. However, projections to the end of the 21st century indicate that there shall be a considerable decrease in both the snow precipitation and snowmelt contribution to the streamflow. Amid change in the form of precipitation under climate change in the Kashmir basin, a significant increase in the streamflow is predicted during the February–May period when the crop water requirement in the basin is very negligible. Subsequently the depleting stream flow predicted in the Upper Indus Basin ending in the twenty-first century will have serious impacts on various sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture and dependent livelihoods which are already facing severe water scarcity.

There is a need for scientific measures to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change. We need to wake up, introspect and join global efforts to contribute our bit to save this planet from turning into a desert. Let’s take a pledge to protect and preserve our environment for our survival, our future generations!

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir 

The post Snow Drought! appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

These bears even reached the premises of prestigious institutions like University of Kashmir and Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura. These wild animals gave sleepless nights to students, teachers, medicos, and inhabitants of adjoining localities. In a lighter vein, these bears seemed to take a leaf from classic American adventure comedy Baby’s Day Out in which an abducted baby escapes in dramatic ways. These bears gave some tough time to Wildlife authorities. After hectic efforts, one of the bears was caught at Lal Bazar locality on Saturday night while others are still on the run.

Humour apart, this is a serious issue when wild animals leave their natural habitat and infiltrate into human habitations! This kind of human-animal conflict can lead to serious collateral damage. There has been a rise in incidents when wild animals especially bears and leopards enter villages, but sighting bears in Srinagar’s heavily populated area is alarming.

Wildlife authorities maintain that Hazratbal and adjoining zones have become a conducive habitat for bears due to unattended land patches, thick bushes, and abundant food waste generated by restaurants and food outlets. They also blame rising stray dog populations as easy food sources that attract wild animals into inhabited areas.

But the question is what really compels bears to leave their habitat in Dachigam National Park and other forests? Scientific studies have shown that behavior of bears has drastically changed, shortening their hibernation period in winter. Researchers have spotted bears active in winters during which they used to hibernate in caves to survive in harsh weather conditions. Due to the ban on poaching, the population of bears has increased manifold in Kashmir even though the species is classified as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list.

Nearly 50 bears have been captured in various areas of Kashmir in November alone. A bear mauled a man and woman at Andoo-Shangus village in Anantnag district on November 23. On the same day another bear was spotted at Soaf village, nearly 15 kilometers away. Wildlife authorities captured both the bears.

On November 28, another bear was captured at Sagam village of Kokernag. Few hours later, another bear was captured at Haptnad village. In the Anantnag-Kulgam Wildlife Range alone the total number of black bears captured, rescued and released back into their natural habitat this month is 10 from the Brengi-Kokernag range and four from the Lidder range. In Shopian-Pulwama Wildlife Range, eight black and brown bears were captured.

Similarly 18 bears have been captured in the last month in the three North Kashmir’s Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla districts. In Central Kashmir’s Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Khrew areas six black bears have been captured and six were given safe passage to nearby forests last month. This depicts the large-scale of bear intrusion into human habitations.

Experts point out that delay in snowfall and less food availability in forests could have delayed hibernation of bears. While some blame extensive disturbances in forests due to haphazard constructions and vehicular movements for disturbing the normal cycle of bears.

It is clear that nothing can stop movement of bears into human habitations. One of the classic examples is the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) on the banks of Dal Lake. Despite all measures, bears enter the golf course giving a scare to golfers. Are the bears really infiltrating the golf course? No way! Actually the Royal Springs Golf Course was the habitat of wild animals including bears. RSGC was carved out of the Salim Ali National Park popularly known as City Forest National Park. The park on the foothills of Zabarwan mountain was home to several wildlife species including critically endangered Hangul, Black Bears, Leopards besides 70 species of birds. However, in 1998, the then government decided to convert the National Park into a golf course. In the process, the wild animals were displaced and are now returning to reclaim their bastion!

To prevent entry of bears and other wild animals into RSGC, several measures including electric fencing were undertaken. However, bears cross all barriers and continue to infiltrate into the golf course which was their erstwhile habitat! Where will the bears go when we have closed their traditional corridors in the upper reaches of Kashmir. Conversion of paddy fields into orchards attracts bears to eat fresh fruits.

Lack of solid waste management adds to their intrusion. It is shocking that 75 percent of the diet of bears who frequent human garbage dumps included plastic, chocolates and organic food waste. During a study by Wildlife SOS, bears were tagged with GPS radio-collars to know their habitat, foraging behaviour, its availability and identify specific causative factors leading to human brown-bear conflicts in famous tourist resort Sonamarg.

In the last two decades, reportedly 250 people were killed and over 3000 were injured in human-animal conflicts in J&K. Let’s end this man-made conflict. Leopards and bears have been attacking mostly kids and elderly persons due to their fragility. If we don’t intrude into the territory of wild animals, they too won’t enter ours. We shouldn’t treat wild animals as aliens or beasts. They are part of our eco-system and play an important role to maintain ecological balance on this planet. Let’s give wild animals their due space to live and flourish.

Arif Shafi Wani is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir

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The report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has pointed towards rising air pollution in J&K. As per the satellite based data, the districts lying in the Indo-Gangetic Plain are major contributors of air pollution.

The report ‘India Satellite Data Assessment Part 1’ shows J&K among northern Indian regions including Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand), where annual PM2.5 concentrations on average surpass the NAAQS limit of 40 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³) mostly in winter, summer and post monsoon periods. This surpasses the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline of 5 μg/m³. This has triggered massive health risks from chronic exposure to polluted air.

The report states that the persistence of high PM2.5 in the northern region, including J&K, challenges seasonal policy measures and requires year-round action.

The report advocates clean air planning to district-level action plans, leveraging satellite data to identify pollution hotspots. The report recommends airshed-based management to tackle cross-state pollution flows.

J&K, especially Kashmir, is draped with a thick layer of smog from the last two weeks. The pollutants fill up the air and reduce visibility.

Weather experts have forecast that temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir and northern India are expected to dip further in the coming weeks; while minimum temperatures are likely to drop more, and foggy conditions will intensify. It is clear that earlier than usual temperature decline has led to denser and more widespread fog. This dense fog traps pollutants close to the ground and sharply reduces visibility. The problem gets compounded in absence of strict enforcement of emission standards for industries and vehicles and complete elimination of crop-residue burning. Experts term the pollutants laden smog as the slow death of vital human systems.”

We have seen how over the years thick layers of smoke triggered by mustard harvest stubble burning engulfs the atmosphere in Kashmir. Covered by mountains, Kashmir valley has been facing an onslaught of air pollution for the last few decades. A matter of concern, air pollution is taking a toll on the health of people. Studies have established that rising air pollution levels are one of the major causes of rising cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Stubble burning releases harmful greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide in high volumes. Stubble burning over the years has spelt doom in the national capital Delhi.

We need to understand the topography of Kashmir. The valley is bound by Pir Panjal and Greater Himalayan mountain ranges, these mountains lock the valley and prevent air masses from escaping, resulting in a rise in air pollutants. Temperature inversion in autumn and winter restricts vertical mixing of air and triggers build-up of haze primarily comprising dust PM10 and PM2.5 and smoke mostly black carbon. The PM2.5 concentration in Srinagar’s air on January 9, 2023 reached 28.2 µg/m³, which is 5.6 times over the World Health Organisation’s air quality values.

A byproduct of temperature inversions in Kashmir is a build-up of haze—an aerosol mixture composed of fine particles found in smog, smoke, and dust. The trapped aerosols absorb and scatter incoming sunlight, creating a layer of poor visibility. Srinagar is the largest contributor of smog, smoke, and other human-caused aerosols in Kashmir.

Rising air pollution levels even caught the attention of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), America’s civil space programme and it released a satellite picture of Kashmir Valley shrouded by haze in 2022. Experts have been attributing prevalence of haze and smog to crop burning and temperature inversion phenomenon.

What is alarming is that traces of Black Carbon (BC), a component of particulate matter (PM) in air, have been found in glaciers of Kashmir. Most of the glaciers in Kashmir are retreating fast due to rising temperatures and pollution levels. Studies reveal that Kashmir has three times more black carbon in the atmosphere than neighbouring states.

Health experts have been raising alarm over deteriorating air quality especially in Kashmir. As per a comprehensive study in Lancet, around 10, 000 deaths in J&K annually upto 2019 are attributed to air pollution. Black carbon has even polluted the pristine environs of world famous ski resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir. As per a study ‘Black carbon in contrasting environments in India: Temporal variability’, air quality is deteriorating fast in Gulmarg due to increased human, mechanical interventions and movement of diesel run vehicles.

Rising air pollution level in catchment areas of Dachigam National Park is posing risk to wild animals especially critically endangered Hangul.

Kashmir is witnessing massive ill-effects of climate change. We are witnessing erratic weather fluctuations, heavy rains and hailstorms. What more indicators we need to understand the damage we have done to our fragile environment. Instead of mitigation measures, we are adding to the climate change phenomenon by contributing to air pollution.

We need to wake up before it’s too late! Otherwise the day is not far away when we will gasp for breath!

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir

The post The Smog! appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

These winged visitors are permanent guests of Kashmir from centuries. The migratory birds are part of the ecosystem and thrive in wetlands in Kashmir. Due to its location at the western extremity of the Himalayas, Wullar lake has been an important flyway and staging ground for migratory birds including shorebirds, gadwall, and pintails, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Brahminy Duck, Garganey, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Red-Crested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler and Common Teal.

Due to its rich bio-diversity and capacity to host the avian visitors, Wullar has been included in the Ramsar Convention, making its conservation mandatory for the government. The lake and its satellite wetlands, including Haigam, Hokersar, Mirgund and Shallabugh, have also been included in the network of important bird areas. The migratory birds use Wullar lake for feeding during the night when there is no disturbance from fishermen or hunters while during night, they seek refuge in Hokersar and nearby wetlands.

J&K ranks fourth to have five Ramsar sites out of 75 sites in the country. Wullar, Hokersar and Surinsar-Mansar, Hygam and Shallabugh are designated Ramsar sites. However, in the absence of conservation measures, the condition of wetlands is deteriorating fast. What is shocking is that 637 kanals of wetlands in Kashmir have been encroached upon. As per official figures, 255 kanals of Hokersar Wetland Reserve, 91 kanals of Hygam Wetland Reserve, 167 kanals of Shallabugh Wetland Reserve, 122 kanals of Mirgund Wetland reserve respectively have been encroached upon. This encroachment is in addition to 6315 kanals of land in wetlands which is under seasonal paddy cultivation by locals in summers. There are 1230 wetlands in J&K and as per an official report, J&K has lost 2372 kanals of wetlands in the last over a decade.

As per Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an environment activist, large chunk of Hygam wetland has been dug up for illegal extraction of sand and soil. This caused low water levels in Hygam wetland. Dr Raja Muzaffar, who is a petitioner in National Green Tribunal (NGT) on various causes to protect environment, minced no words to rue that the Tribunal’s directions are observed in breach on the ground. “There is no mechanism to prevent the influx of sewage, garbage into wetlands. How will the migratory birds survive in these conditions?”

Ecologically important wetlands in the Jhelum floodplains like Hokersar, Bemina wetland, Narakara wetland, Batamaloo numbal, Rakh-e-arth, Anchar lake and Gilsar have been degraded due to rapid encroachment and urbanisation. The total area of the major wetlands in the Jhelum basin with an area greater than 25 hectares have decreased from 288.96 sq km in 1972 to 266.45 sq km. Twently wetlands have been lost to urban colonies during the last five decades, particularly in the south of Srinagar. Deterioration of wetlands has severely affected flora and fauna and habitation of migratory birds.

Condition of another Ramsar site, Hokersar wetland is worst with unabated encroachments and siltation. Once known as Queen of Wetlands for its immense ecological value, studies reveal that Hokersar has shrunk from 18.13 sq. Km in 1969 to 13.42 sq km in 2008, a loss of almost 5.2 sq. Km during the last 40 years. Water quality of Hokersar has been extensively deteriorated. As per studies, the inlet of Hokersar has the highest physicochemical characteristics due to increasing human-induced activities besides massive silt influx.

Kashmir based Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has been voicing concern over deterioration of wetlands and fighting a long legal battle to ensure conservation measures. EPG Convenor Faiz Ahmad Bakshi rues that “the region is witnessing a troubling pattern of political intervention in conservation initiatives. Encroachers and vested interests are being shielded under political influence, seriously damaging restoration work in fragile ecosystems such as Hokersar and Shalbugh wetlands. We need to de-politicise protection of wetlands and focus on scientific measures.”

Surprisingly the pace of deterioration of wetlands is more than cosmetic conservation measures. Wetlands are vanishing fast and turning into a concrete jungle in the shape of colonies. We don’t realise the immense ecological importance of wetlands, how nature’s kidneys act as a reservoir for flood waters! Alas! We have been treating wetlands as wastelands! We must admit that our wetlands have been facing an onslaught of official apathy and societal greed.

Wetlands in Kashmir have potential to become one of the preferred eco-tourism bird watching spots. We must treat these avian visitors as our guests by preserving their habitat and giving them their due space on this planet. Let’s wake up and join hands to save wetlands and other natural assets. Let us give these birds their due space on this planet!

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir

The post Conserve habitat of winged visitors to Kashmir appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

There has been massive damage to the environment in Jammu and Kashmir mainly due to haphazard construction of infrastructure development projects. This happens in absence of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Be it laying of power transmission wires or construction of roads in eco-fragile areas, forests have been bearing the brunt of “development.”  There has been massive outcry by environmentalists about the felling of trees for construction of roads through forests.

The felling of trees for construction of the Handwara-Bangus road has caught the attention of National Green Tribunal (NGT). An environmental and RTI activist Rasikh Rasool Bhat has been fighting a long legal battle for protection of forest along the road. The petitioner has submitted in the NGT that clearance had been granted only for Phase-I of the project while work on Phase-II had already been initiated without formal approval.  Acting on the petition, NGT in August this year had directed the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir to file a comprehensive affidavit explaining how more than 1,000 trees and saplings were felled in the Rajwar Forests of Kupwara for the Handwara–Bangus road project without the mandatory payment of compensatory charges worth ₹3.81 crore.
The Tribunal has also asked the government to spell out disciplinary action against officers who permitted the violations and to disclose whether similar irregularities exist in other projects across the Union Territory.
The petitioner submits that the Government had permitted the Public Works Department to use 14 hectares of dense forest land for Phase-I of the Handwara–Bangus road project. The permission included the feeling of 447 full-grown trees, 340 poles, and 236 saplings, mostly comprising deodar, kail, and fir species. In return, the department is required to deposit Rs 3.81 crore towards Net Present Value, Compensatory Afforestation, and Roadside Avenue Plantation. Questions are being raised that can the government compensate for the loss of trees? Are we doing a barter system with nature!
During the recent hearing, the Chief Secretary tendered an unconditional and unreserved apology before the NGT for failing to file the Action Taken Report (ATR) within the stipulated period in the case.
The tribunal has rightly observed that “environmental governance cannot be compromised and reiterated that responsibility must be established at every level for lapses causing ecological harm.”
Rajwar Forest, through which the road passes, is an ecologically sensitive area and home to wild animals such as the Himalayan black bear, leopard, and Himalayan deer. Beyond the damage to the environment, movement of vehicles will disturb the habitat of wild animals.

How much more damage will we inflict on our forests? Already 3.86 lakh kanals of forest land has been encroached upon in Jammu and Kashmir. In the disguise of so-called development, trees have been not felled but massacred in forests!  More than 1 lakh trees of Apple, Chinar, Walnut, Mulberry were chopped down to pave way for construction of Srinagar Ring Road. Around 6000 trees were felled wantonly in 2015 for setting up 1,115 pylons and 1,200 towers inside forests to lay a 414-km line via Mughal road, between Shopian and Poonch.

During construction of the 220-kV Alastang-Leh transmission line spreading 320 kms, 150 hectares of forest land including areas of Sindh Forest Division in Sonamarg were handed over to Power Grid Corporation of India. More than 14,600 lush green and towering conifers in the Daruder forest belt were razed to the ground to pave way for laying transmission lines.
Are we fiddling with nature? Amid climate change, the destruction of forests and construction activities can be detrimental for the eco-fragile environment of J&K. We are already reeling under the ill-effects of climate change. We are witnessing prolonged dry spells even in winters during the last several years. And then a heavy spell of rain causes a flood situation. We are caught between two extremes of weather.
We don’t blame ourselves when natural disasters strike us. Given the increasing frequency of natural disasters, it is apt to call these man-made disasters. We leave no stone unturned to vandalise our natural resources be it glaciers, mountains, forests, lakes, springs or wetlands. In the name of so-called development, we have devastated natural resources. Government has no concept of sustainable development in J&K.
We have to understand that we are living in an eco-fragile zone. We have witnessed how dangerous natural disasters can be. Jammu and Kashmir is prone to natural disasters particularly floods, landslides, earthquakes. Due to climate change, J&K has been witnessing frequent cloudbursts in the last over a decade.

It is high time we wake up and take measures to prevent further damage to the environment. If we care for nature, it will care for us. If we damage nature, it will take its revenge. We have to learn to live in harmony with nature. Environmental Impact Assessment must be made mandatory before execution of all projects especially in eco-fragile areas. Government must strike a balance between development and the environment.  Let’s join hands to save J&K from environmental catastrophe!.

Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir

The post Road to Destruction! appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

The Supreme Court took serious note of the alarming rise in dog bite incidents in institutional areas like educational centres, hospitals, bus stands, railway stations, highways and expressways, sports complexes, and directed the authorities to move such canines to designated shelters.

“With regard to the alarming rise in incidents of dog bites within institutional areas, such as educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and depots and railway stations, this court deems it appropriate to issue the following directions in the interest of public safety, health and management of stray dogs,” the bench said.

It directed states and union territories, through their respective local or municipal authorities, to identify such institutions within two weeks and asked the administrative heads of such institutions to ensure that the premises are secured by adequate fencing, boundary walls, gates and such other structural measures as may be necessary to prevent the ingress of stray dogs.

The top court directed that cattle and other stray animals so picked up shall be kept in appropriate centres or cattle pounds and provided with necessary food, water and veterinary care in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.

The Apex Court judgement has been widely welcomed in Jammu and Kashmir which has been witnessing a massive spike in dog bite cases. As per official data, J&K has recorded a staggering 2,12,968 cases of dog bites between 2022 and 2025. Kashmir division tops the list with 1,14,498 cases while Jammu division has reported 98,470 dog bite cases during the three year period.

In the Kashmir division, the summer capital Srinagar topped the list with 36,406 cases, followed by Anantnag 26,453 cases and Baramulla 18,563 cases. Budgam reported 9,382 cases, Kulgam 6,612 cases, Bandipora 5,367 cases, Ganderbal 3,338 cases, Kupwara 3,594 cases, Pulwama 3,426 cases respectively. Shopian district in south Kashmir has lowest cases at 1,357.

Similarly, Jammu district alone reported 54,889 cases followed by Kathua 8,913 cases and Udhampur 8,549 cases. Other districts with significant numbers include Rajouri 5,342 cases, Doda 4,390 cases, Reasi 4,210 cases, Kishtwar 3,662 cases, Samba 3,335 cases, Poonch 2,923 cases and Ramban 2,257 cases respectively.

J&K has witnessed a rise in rabies cases. This year three people including two children died due to rabies in Kulgam district of Kashmir and Rajouri district of Jammu respectively. Medicos say that a timely schedule of vaccines after a dog had bitten these victims, could have saved them. What makes people in J&K more vulnerable to dog bites and rabies is the increasing stray dogs’ population.

Government is struggling under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme amid insufficient facilities and inadequate manpower. This year the ABC programme was started after a halt of 10 months signifying a messy state of affairs.

It is surprising that only 48,998 stray dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated between June 2023 and September 2025 in J&K. The sterilisation drives were carried out by Jammu Municipal Corporation on 13,730 dogs, Srinagar Municipal Corporation on 27,237 dogs and, Urban Local Bodies Kashmir 161 dogs and Urban Local Bodies Jammu 7,870 dogs respectively. There is a massive gap between sterlisation and population growth of dogs. Accountability needs to be fixed for slow sterlisation rate. We must know the heavy price each dog bite victim has to pay!

As per estimates, over one lakh stray dogs are present in Srinagar alone and on an average over 13 people suffer dog bites every day in the district alone. Cases of dog bites rise during reproductive season of dogs as these become aggressive while protecting their newly born puppies.

A study ‘The Lived-In Experience and Psychological Recount of Dog Bite Victims Visiting the Anti-Rabies Clinic in Kashmir: conducted by Department of Community Medicine GMC Srinagar, the situation is alarming. It states that dog bite victims after facing mauling from the dogs, developed a strong inner feeling of psychological and emotional instability.

Experts blame open garbage dumping as one of the major reasons for the increasing population of stray dogs and rising dog bite cases. As per estimates, over 500 metric tons of garbage is generated daily in Srinagar district alone. The problem is compounded in absence of segregation of waste at source and scientific disposal, especially of poultry waste. Garbage dumps have turned into breeding grounds for stray dogs with people, especially children and elderly, bearing the brunt. Authorities have completely failed to ensure scientific garbage collection and disposal.
It is the responsibility of the government to safeguard lives of people. Besides implementation of Supreme Court guidelines to relocate stray dogs from human habitations, it is also the responsibility of the government to take care of animals at designated shelters. People have been paying a heavy price due to growing population of stray dogs in absence of comprehensive sterilisation measures. There is a need to strike a balance between humans and animals, both need due space, protection and care!

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir

The post Tackle stray dog menace in J&K appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah a few days ago minced no words to blame PDP-BJP coalition regime for failing to undertake flood mitigation measures. During Omar’s first tenure as CM, major areas of Srinagar were submerged during devastating floods in 2014.

Omar raised fingers on the utilisation of funds sanctioned after the 2014 floods. “Where is the money for dredging the Jhelum and the flood channel? Did dredging happen under the PDP-BJP government. Who was the minister then.” Omar did not stop here and sought explanation to the people for what happened to the World Bank and flood relief funds. “Tell us, where did the money go? Who siphoned it? This year, just two days of rain created a flood scare. In 2014, floods came after seven days of rain. We were saved only because Allah stopped the rain. What has been done all these years for Srinagar city, which continues to be neglected,” Omar rued.

Even in the recently concluded Autumn session of the Legislative Assembly, several legislators decried the lack of flood mitigation measures in Kashmir.

The Assembly was informed that despite the passing of over a decade since the 2014 floods, the crucial Phase-II of the Jhelum Flood Mitigation Project sanctioned under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) is still under execution.

It is to be noted that Phase-II of the project has been sanctioned for Rs 1,623.43 crore. Funds released by Government of India amounts to Rs 114.29 crore as 1st installment and so far Rs 114.29 crore has been spent. The short-term flood mitigation measures were announced in 2015 as part of PMDP, with an overall allocation of Rs 2,083.90 crore. The Jal Shakti department claims that these measures were executed in two phases—Phase I and Phase II.It was also informed that there is no such proposal for construction of new flood channels in Srinagar.

Authorities claim that Phase-I approved for Rs 399.29 crore in 2015-16 by the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) has been almost completed. The flood protection work of Rs 200 crore has been executed under this project. Besides, land acquisition of 1,750 canals worth Rs 142.33 crore was done.

The legislators were informed that the outcome of these interventions under Phase-I has led to the increase of carrying capacity of Jhelum from 31,800 cusecs to 41,000 cusecs. As per experts, there is a need to raise Jhelum’s capacity to one lakh cusecs to prevent flooding of catchment areas.

The Government admitted that despite flood mitigation measures, several areas in Srinagar including Lasjan, Gandbal, Soiteng, Vethpara, Padshahi Bagh, Kursoo Rajbagh, Shivpora, Sonawar, Batwara, Rajbagh, and Jawahar Nagar, are highly flood-prone.

When the Jhelum discharge will exceed 40,000 cusecs, these areas will be prone to flooding. And adding salt to the injury is that the government proposes short-term measures to mitigate flood threats in these localities including the restoration of weak spots identified during safety audits of river embankments through temporary protection works such as the laying of filled Erosion Control bags. This means that during rains, people of these areas will have to live under constant threat of floods and live under the mercy of sand bags!

Where is the Government lacking on flood mitigation? Why is the Government silent on restoration of Jhelum’s flood plains? There must be a probe how wetlands comprising the Jhelum floodplains like Hokersar, Bemina wetland, Narakara wetland, Batamaloo numbal, Rakh-e-arth, have not only been filled, encroached upon, but urbanised too. The built-up area within the floodplains of Jhelum has increased by four times from 55.47 sq. km in 1972 to over 200 sq. km. As if this was not enough, the construction of railway tracks and Bypass without adequate water canals severely affect inundation levels and patterns of Jhelum during floods.

In blatant violation of norms, Environmental Impact Assessment is rarely conducted before execution of development projects. This has changed the rather vandalised eco-fragile landscape of Jhelum.

Kashmir has been reeling under flood threats from centuries at regular intervals with major ones in 1903, 1905, 1909, 1928, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2006 and the devastating one in 2014.

Experts maintain that floods are mostly caused by the filling up of Jhelum’s flood plains and backwater effects due to low outflows from Wullar Lake which over the decades has lost its carrying capacity by heavy accumulation of silt. There is a need to expedite the pace of comprehensive bathymetric–hydrodynamic study of Wular Lake to assess its current water carrying capacity, delineate and validate critically silted areas, and take measures to prevent silt influx from feeding channels.

We need to learn from the British who constructed embankments and water regulatory gates during the Dogra rule to save Srinagar from floods. Till 1947, Dogra rulers used to breach Kandzal area to save Srinagar from inundation. The flood water used to spread till central kashmir’s Budgam areas. Now this floodplain is buried under houses!

It doesn’t need studies to prevent floods but just a sense of responsibility by the government and people. Official apathy and public greed are squarely responsible for deterioration of Jhelum and other water bodies. It needs political and public will to increase the carrying capacity of Jhelum.

We cannot let our future generations live under constant fear of floods after a rainy spell. Let us learn to respect nature as our survival depends on it.

 Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir

The post Save Kashmir from future floods! appeared first on Greater Kashmir.

Snow leopards are mostly found in mountainous regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. Poached for its attractive fur, organs and bones, it is estimated that 4000 to 10000 snow leopards are left in the world and India is home to around 718 of these elusive cats. 60 percent of snow leopards have been found in the Ladakh region alone. The snow leopard had its status changed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) from Endangered to Vulnerable. Owing to the importance of Snow Leopard, it has been included in the list of Species under the Species Recovery Programme being funded through the umbrella scheme “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”.

A recent study conducted by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) and J&K Wildlife Protection Department has revealed that snow leopards are found and breed all year-round in the Union Territory. The three-year study from 2022 has been conducted in Kishtwar under the countrywide Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) programme.

As per the study, the snow leopards were found in winters in both Paddar area of Jammu division and Zojila in Kashmir division respectively. NCF and Wildlife Protection Department state that this signifies year-round use of the landscape by snow leopards—a critical indicator of stable habitat and a resident population.

It was not an easy task to conduct the study. More than 3000 camera traps were set up across the Kishtwar High Altitude National Park (KHANP), Paddar, and Zojila. The hard work paid as it resulted in identification of 12 adult snow leopards, with an estimated presence of up to 20 individuals. Besides, a mother with cubs was spotted in Kishtwar indicating that this is a breeding population. The camera traps also captured both snow leopards and common leopards at the same locations. Wildlife experts state that this raises important questions about species interactions and the possible impact of climate change on range shifts.

Shahid Hameed, Wildlife Research and Project Coordinator at NCF rightly states that it is time to treat the Kishtwar Himalayas not as isolated valleys, but as part of an interconnected conservation landscape.

The findings of the study point towards the importance of J&K as a key snow leopard stronghold. Our neighboring Ladakh, which was once part of erstwhile J&K state, forms the country’s largest habitat for the snow leopard. Ladakh is home to around 477 of the estimated 718 elusive big cats in India.

Given the importance of the Snow Leopard scientifically known as Panthera uncia or fondly called “Phantom of the Himalayas”, October 23 is observed as International Snow Leopard Day. Wildlife SOS launched a study on Snow Leopards in 2021 in the Thajiwas Wildlife Sanctuary which is a key corridor linking the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. The researchers had confirmed the presence of snow leopard across 355 km of terrain through pugmarks, scrapes, and scats. Findings revealed that 89% of the snow leopard’s diet comprised livestock, reflecting the overlap between pastoral lands and snow leopard habitats, and the looming threat of human-snow leopard conflict in these high-altitude zones.

Aaliya Mir, Head of the J&K programme, Wildlife SOS, maintains that snow leopards are an umbrella species; when they thrive, entire ecosystems flourish. “Every effort to protect them safeguards countless other species.

In 2009, Government started work on an ambitious project to save the existing population of the Snow Leopard in its bastion, the higher reaches of Ladakh with focus on its habitat improvement. After receiving financial assistance from the Centre, the wildlife authorities have started work on the ‘Project Snow leopard’ in Ladakh. The project spanned 3500 sq kms including Hemis High Altitude National Park in Ladakh. What’s important is that Project Snow Leopard is treated on a par with other major conservation programs like Project Tiger and Project Elephant, recognizing the snow leopard as an umbrella species for Himalayan ecosystems.

Besides disturbances in habitat, snow leopards face a major challenge due to drastic decrease of its ungulate prey including wild sheep and goats. In search of food, snow leopards are sometimes forced to climb down to lower areas resulting in incidents of human-animal conflict. Increasing human activities in forests and upper reaches disturbs the movement of snow leopards. Construction of roads and structures in eco-fragile zones forming part of the snow leopard’s habitat is taking a heavy toll on the elusive cat.

Rapid melting of glaciers in J&K and Ladakh besides depleting snow cover due to global warming and increasing pollution levels also affect snow leopards. There is a need to devise scientific strategies to understand behaviour and track their movements. Satellite collaring can help to draw their habitat, identify tracks and corridors.

Conservation of Snow Leopards in Ladakh is attracting foreign tourists and nature lovers to the mountainous region. J&K too has much scope for eco-tourism including showcasing snow leopards.

It is the responsibility of government and wildlife experts to join hands to protect and preserve Snow Leopards. We need to develop scientific strategies to promote coexistence of wild animals with humans to maintain ecological balance. Let’s give Snow leopards their due space to live and thrive!

Author is Executive Editor,

Greater Kashmir

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