news details |
|
|
| Now watermill park under threat at Yusmarg | | | Early Times Report
Yusmarg, May 16: Yusmarg is again in news as authorities have allowed a local contractor to dug the famous watermill park to facilitate creation of a small rail line / amusement park for children. The environmental activists on the other hand say that creation of this small rail line would deface the park completely.
Details available with Early Times reveal that a five feet wide patch and around 50 feet in length has already been dugged by a local contractor who is planning to get some children train in Yusmarg with the support of local Yusmarg Development Authority (YDA). The YDA has been in news in past also as in clear violation of Supreme Court directives , as this famous tourist resort in central Kashmir's Budgam district is being vandalized by the authorities. Lot of illegal and concrete structures have been raised in this environmentally fragile zone.
YDA is planning to construct a shopping complex on the forest land near the JKTDC cafeteria and some work according to locals has already began. Few years back JKTDC constructed a hotel on the forest land in the heart of Yusmarg which further defaced this green meadow. Sources say that YDA has placed an indent before Forest department asking it to divert some 80 kanals of land .
As per information available Yusmarg Development Authority (YDA) has erected more than one dozen concrete structures around Yusmarg. The YDA has been erecting the concrete structures right from 2009 when the YDA took formal control over this place. Yusmarg is located around 50 kilometers from Srinagar. Few years back YDA constructed a concrete Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) near the Yusmarg entry point. The structure is not at all eco-friendly as it should have been . The building was constructed only to swindle money say tourism experts.
Yusmarg has the potential to be the gateway for a large number of potential tourist destinations in the Pir Panchaal area of Kashmir but the authorities seem to be least bothered to develop this place on lines with local environment. The authorities basically want to get cuts from the contractors and that is the reason that such huge concrete structures are erected on a forest land. "This place is so beautiful that it mesmerizes tourists with its scenic meadows and mountains which can be compared with European Alps. There are some unique flowers in this area found in the spring season which are considered to have medicinal value as well. A major trekking route from Yousmarg leads to a famous green pasture called Tosa Maidan . But authorities are not even discussing a bit with local panchayat , even the master plan copy has not been shared with the local panchayat " said G M Ahangar the local Sarpanch of Yusmarg Nagbal.
"Our panchayat is hardly consulted by the YDA and the illegal constructions is going at full pace in our area , all these constructions openly violate supreme court guidelines and the constructions are also violating the J&K Forest Protection Act " Ahangar added. Environmental activists say that Yusmarg is under a constant threat of ecological imbalance and this threat seen is mainly due to official apathy. " The Government and YDA should not allow any unnecessary concrete constructions in the area. YDA must prevent the influential people as well as the Tourism department or J&K Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) from going ahead with any constructions in the area. Yusmarg Master Plan should be made public for an open public debate. Under the grab of development the Government must not allow destruction of Yusmarg which indeed has a great tourism potential" said Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat who recently filed a petition before National Green Tribunal (NGT) raising his concern about Bajpathri , Tosamaidan and Yusmarg meadows.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
