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Infrastructural needs and Environmental Impact - II : Shri Amarnath Yatra

By Dr. C. M. Seth
Continued from Infrastructural needs and Environmental Impact -
I
07. Environment Management and Nature Conservation
: With number of Yatris to Holy Amarnathjee Cave (J&K)
increasing every year, better management of Yatra on both the axis
ie Pahalgam and Baltal has become of utmost importance. More
particularly when some people are bent upon creating controversies
over the duration of Yatra, conducting the Yatries to the cave and
their stay enroute / as well as near the Holy Cave Shrine. Some may
have no otherwise intentions and must be getting carried with the
environmental concerns due movement and stay of the yatries.
Theoretically they may have some bit to justify but it can not be
over looked that we have to accommodate some unavoidable
disturbances to the mother earth and her environment to facilitate
the stay and needs of the naturally growing population . Similarly
the issues of religious faith and Extreme Aasthas have to be
accommodated as very very special extra ordinary needs and the
auspicious Amarnathjee Shrine Yatra is such an extraordinary need
that can not be ordinarily so simply disposed off. More over it is
through the Hindu traditions that one is taught to respect, love,
protect and even worship the trees and mountains.
This is one particular aspect concerning Amarnath Yatra that being
so much being aired in the media. Recently the " Kashmir valley
Civil Society " too has entered into the race. Even some people
have termed linking the controversies over the Yatra with the
environment as apolitical gamesman ship. Some have gone even
further, I would not discuss the stake holders here.
7.1.1 It is the mountain eco system that is of immediate reference
here. Mountain Ecosystem comprises of both tree growth at lower
altitude and pastures at high altitude.
7.1.2 Other concerns are melting of glaciers, landslides, wildlife,
medicinal plants, etc.
7.1.3 Now let us see how these are affected by the limited period
of Yatra. Yatris do not extract medicinal plants illegally or
legally like other places in the valley. After the Yatra is over,
it is the Shikaris from Pahalgam, Kangan and other adjoining
villages who enter the high altitude valleys to kill Ibex, Brown
and Black bears, Musk deer, Hangul and other wild species. Yatris
do not kill these animals but in fact Yatra provides sufficient
security to these animals during the Yatra when Shikaris do not
dare to kill these animals. More over the religious faith of the
Hindu Yatries motivates them for supporting the wild life
some even worship the animals.
7.1.4 .About melting of glaciers, there are only two major glaciers
along the yatra routes one is Sheshnag Mahagunas glacier and other
is near Amarnath Cave.
No scientific study has been carried out to show that these two
glaciers are melting at higher rate than other glaciers in the
valley like Sonmarg and Kolohai. There is some scientific study
being carried out by the Kashmir University for Kolohai glacier to
study the impact of climate change and global warming on the
melting of glaciers in Himalaya. Glaciers all over Himalaya are
affected by global climate changes both positively and negatively.
Same will hold true for other glaciers.
More over it is only for a limited period of Yatra snow is only
cleared from the tracks and not that complete glaciers are cleared
for yatra. Therefore, Yatra will not unduly speed up the melting of
snow as is being apprehended by some to the extent of pleading for
curtailing yatra and let the yatries carry on under physical and
weather threats. Neither it will that adversely affect the climate
of Kashmir valley as being affected by clearing the green cover for
industrialization and over flowing number of automobiles burning
Lakhs of tons of fuel in Kashmir valley surrounded by hills.
It will have its cycles of good and bad years of snow fall due to
global climatic changes. Like this winter valley and western
Himalayas had heavy snowfall. The holy Ice Lingam this year was
available in sufficient height on Rakshabandan day. Where as last
year it had nearly melted.
7.1.5 Regarding cutting of trees one has to very clear about the
tree line along the Yatra routes. Along the Baltal route tree line
is upto Letri followed by bushy forests of Juniperus and then high
altitude pastures. Similarly along the Pahalgam route tree line is
upto Pissu Ghati followed by bushy growth of Juniperus and Betula
and then high altitude pastures upto Amarnath cave.
Who uses timber for construction, for firewood and extraction of
high altitude herbs? All these are the requirement of the villages
in the Lidder and Sindh valleys. No Yatri burns firewood, neither
cuts the trees for construction and neither takes fodder from hill
slopes for the cattle. All cooking during main Yatra is presently
done in the Langars and by Army with cooking gas.
7.1.5.1.Who is dependent on pastures? These are nomadic graziers
and local herders of cattle. Nomadic graziers are the first to
enter in the month of May and occupy slopes at High altitudes for
grazing and are last to leave these high altitude in the month of
August and September depending on season. It is estimated that more
than two to three hundred nomadic deras bring their sheep and goat
in these mountains for grazing for the last more than hundred
years. In addition local graziers also bring cattle in these
mountains for grazing. Therefore who is using and dependent on high
altitude Pastures, if at all some one is it is these graziers
and not the Yatris who come late and leave early.
7.1.5.2 Yatries neither bring their livestock nor construct timber
Kothas on Behaks and neither cut precious Juniperus for burning. It
has been often alleged due to no movement of people from out side
to these areas there has been even ruthless cutting of Betula for
fodder and Juniperus for burning and over the centuries such
activities have made fragile mountain slopes barren of vegetation
resulting into landslides and degradation of High altitude alpine
ecosystems.
More than 10000 to 20000 sheep and goat along with horses and other
cattle already graze and browse on these pastures much beyond the
carrying capacity of the Alpine pastures but so far no civil
society has so aggressively come forward against those who have
been destroying the forests and mountains in Kashmir Valley over
last six decades. Typical example of such impact of uncontrolled
grazing along the Tracks can be seen at many places along the
routes but the serious ones are the Letri along Baltal route and
Sheshnag and Pissu Top along the Pahalgam route. No doubt it has to
be taken care by J&K Government and not the SASB.
7.1.5.3 Therefore, the J&K government should take steps to
protect the landslides both through Soil Conservation Department
and the Technology developed by SASE to protect the hill slopes.
Extensive plantations of High Altitude Willows and other indigenous
species like Betula, Birdcherry, Ash and high altitude shrubs
should be undertaken along both the tracks, hilly slopes and inner
valleys by the departments of Forest and Social Forestry. These
actions would be needed even if there is no Yatra 7.1.5.4
Productivity of High altitude pastures need to be increased by
adopting conservational and promotional practices so that grazing
could be split in sections and by alternate / controlled grazing
methods nomadic graziers have not to exploit the pastures beyond
their carrying capacity.
7.1.5.5 All Nomadic Graziers should be provided with high altitude
tents and cooking gas so that trees for Kotha construction are not
felled and live Juniperus which is precious to protect High
altitude pastures is not further uprooted and saved from extraction
for fuel wood. To supply 200 gas cylinders and chullas to graziers
is not a big deal for government for a period of two to three
months from Baltal base camp and Chandanbari base camp. High
altitude Tents and Gas can be supplied even out of the Tribal
development plan of the State.
7.1.5.6 Wildlife department should monitor the population of
wildlife before and after the Yatra to see if there is any impact
on the wildlife.
Department need to also monitor the health of wildlife species both
ungulates and carnivores to check if there is any infection from
the sheep and goat and domestic cattle.
7.1.5.7 Department need to also observe if there is any effects on
the health of wild animals due to feeding near the Langars.
Wildlife department should fix power fence in such place where some
animals are in the habit of coming near Langars. Salt lick should
be provided to Ibex and other ungulate population along both the
tracks. Special care is to be taken for the Marmots. These animals
are very friendly and tend to come near the human beings. Yatris
need to be advised not to give any food to these animals.
7.1.5.8 Otherwise also Government should prepare a comprehensive
environment management plan for the conservation of ecology and
wildlife for the mountain scape of Himalayas along both the axis .
This will not only help these mountains in ecological conservation
but will also help in increasing the productivity of high altitude
pasturelands. The project should be submitted to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests Government of India for funding or else
J&K government should fund this project out of CAMPA of the
Forest department. Similarly wildlife department can submit a
project to the Ministry for conservation of wildlife at high
altitudes.
08. Waste Management : In the last three to four
years steps taken by SASB has helped in reducing the solid and
liquid waste at Nunwan and Baltal base camps by using the
eco-friendly technology of biological treatment of liquid waste.
.In addition two water testing laboratories are stationed at Baltal
and Nunwan with scientific staff of the Pollution Control Board to
monitor the quality of waste water coming out of the treatment
plants/ tanks on daily, weekly and monthly basis. Reports of the
monitoring team in general have indicated that the treated water do
not contain the pollutants and if any time there are adverse
reports immediately corrections are made.
09. It is the responsibility of State Pollution Control Board to
help the SASB and other Government agencies to maintain the
pollution free waters of all the rivers and lakes of Kashmir valley
particularly rivers of Sindh and Lidder. .Water of Sindh river is
monitored from Domel to Sonmarg and downwards. Quality of river
water does not indicate higher levels of pollutants. It is as good
as drinking water. Similarly water of Lidder river is also
monitored up and downstream of Pahalgam town and thee report
indicates that there is more pollution from the Hotels and city
sewerage . Where as water coming out of NUNWAN contains negligible
pollutants.
10. As per the SASB for solid waste biodegradable and non
biodegradable is collected, segregated and put for vermin-compost
in the trenches. Plastic waste is either shredded or taken in big
trucks for recycling. Special attention is paid post Yatra cleaning
operations and for one week to ten days laborers are engaged to
clean all the base and transit camps. Therefore chances of
pollution of river waters of Lidder and Sindh are not based on
scientific findings. As far the solid waste treatment and disposal
both Sonmarg and Pahalgam Development Authorities have been
allotted funds to develop scientific disposal, dumping and
treatment sites including disposals also from Baltal and Nunwan
base camps if still required.
11. So the Action Plan of 2013 and thereafter must and can safely
include ( with out any measurable fears of undue damage to
environment / ecology from the Yatra ) in the priority list
among other things, improving the safety conditions of Tracks on
both the axis, widening of tracks atleast at critical points /
junctures realignment of tracks on critical points identified
as "death" traps, erection of temporary structural shelter sheds.
And ofcourse the work on acclimatization chambers, improving health
care system at Base camps and at mid way / transit camps, waste
management, deployment of disaster management units and regular /
modern environment management plans need be speeded up.
Author is an environmentalist and field biologist and had headed
the J&K State Pollution Control Board. Can be accessed at
[email protected]
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