-tensions between India and Pakistan, in particular with regard to reduced water flows in the dry season and higher flows during the wet season, posing increased risk to hydropower development and higher frequency of floods in both parts of the Kashmir,” he writes
Earlier a study on Kolahai Glacier conducted by remote sensing by the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, revealed that the glacier’s spatial extent has changed from 19.34 sq Km in 1992 to 17.23 sq Km in 2001, a net decrease of 2.11 sq Km in 10 years. The rate of retreat in 2007 was 21.88 meters in the main snout.
“The glacier has developed several crevasses and cracks over the years. Human interference including the Amarnath pilgrimage is one of the reasons for the glacier’s recession. Gujjars who are putting up in the glacier’s core area are major contributors for its meltdown,” glaciologist, Prof Syed Iqbal Hasnain, who has conducted on-the-spot assessment of the Kolahai was quoted as saying by a local daily recently.
A study on glacier recession in Kashmir by Muneer Ahmad, an environmental expert from the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, says the Kolahai Glacier has been shrinking since the start of 19th century. But in the last decade it has been receding quite fast.
The study says several small glaciers have disappeared completely in some areas, the thickness of glaciers has reduced by more than two-thirds, and most of the springs in the Valley have dried up, and the remaining are drying up.
“The quantity of snowfall has been clearly reduced over the last decades. Cement plants in the Kashmir Valley are producing heat-trapping gases that could lead to no snow in the plains in the next two decades,” the study says.
The study further reveals that more than 300 military convoys producing high-level green house gases move across the Valley every day.
“The gases emitted by these vehicles disturb the atmosphere of the Valley. The annual Amaranth Yatra is proving disastrous to the fragile environment of the area,” it states.
The study states that receding of the glaciers has increased the amount of sediments in Lidder catchment in Pahalgam. Lidder Valley forms base of the two main ice fields, the Kolahai and Shesram. And it is the source of two main upper streams, the West and East Lidder that join near Pahalgam. The study underscores the need for a detailed data on the sediments from glaciated zone.
The changing environment of the Valley has starting taking toll on the yatra itself. Last year the Shiv Lingam in the Amarnath cave melted due to increase in temperature and it had to be recreated artificially. Swami Agnivesh came under strong criticism for commenting on the melt down of the lingam due to warming of the climate.
“Lingam does not form naturally, but it is an artificial phenomenon to promote tourism,” he was quoted as saying. Apart from the glaciers, pollution is the other big worry that tourism brings with it in the summers. According to a ground survey by the state pollution and control board, revealed an official, the garbage generated in Pahalgam at the time of yatra is much higher than its per capita production in rest of the year.
“The garbage produced is many tons more than its normal production. And more garbage means more pollution,” says the official, wishing anonymity. Given the inadequate garbage dumping facilities, it is definitely taking a toll on the environment. Residents say, the garbage collected at the time of the yatra is dumped in the forests near Baisaran area of Pahalgam.
At the Nunwan base camp, the yatris are provided with make shift latrines that ultimately discharge into the Lidder river – the main source of drinking water for most of south Kashmir.
“Normally when we go to Pahalgam, its beautiful environment soothes the senses. But if you go during the two months of yatra, it smells foul. Reason is improper arrangements made for yatris to defecate,” say the locals. “One does not feel like going to Pahalgam during yatra.”
While the use of polythene is banned in Kashmir, the yatris can be seen carrying them around casually.
“The result is pollution of the soil, especially when the garbage is dumped in forest,” say locals. Amarnath yatra became a bone of contention in 2008 when the state government transferred land to the Shri Amrnath Shrine Board—the body headed by the governor for managing the-
