SRINAGAR: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has raised alarm over what it termed as an “illegal and ecologically disastrous” overlanding activity taking place in several forest and meadow belts of Jammu and Kashmir. The group has called upon the government to immediately stop this practice, warning that the ongoing vehicular excursions across fragile mountain ecosystems could lead to irreversible environmental degradation.
According to EPG, the activity has been reported from forest regions of Haijan, Branwar, Mechkhanian, and Ashrat, where participants have been driving vehicles across green pastures and forest trails. “This is an unlawful activity and the participants are not only aware of it but brazenly admit it,” said Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, Convenor of the Environmental Policy Group. “Their reference to such activities being legal in Australia, South Africa, or other countries is no justification. We are governed by our own laws and not by those in operation elsewhere — period.”
Bakshi said that video evidence clearly shows how these overlanding groups are damaging forest trails and meadows. “Our meadows, which were unspoiled two or three decades ago, are now facing destruction because of the reckless use of vehicles in these ecologically sensitive areas,” he said. “Sadly, forest zones of Haijan, Branwar, and Mechkhanian, falling en route to the Ashtar Forest area, are already bearing the brunt of such activities. If this is not stopped forthwith, it will end in disaster.”
The group cited reports indicating that around 3,60,000 kanals of forest area in Jammu and Kashmir have already been encroached upon or misused for various illegal activities, including unregulated vehicular movement. EPG also recalled that Branwar had suffered extensive ecological damage around 15 years ago due to the construction of a mini-hydropower project and associated pipeline works.
“The Environmental Policy Group advises these young people to immediately stop the overlanding activity that causes irreparable damage to forests and green pastures,” Bakshi urged. He added that one participant had compared the destruction caused by overlanding to the degradation of Dal Lake. “I can’t agree more with him. But brother, this is a bad example, two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Drawing parallels with a past intervention, Bakshi recalled the example of Sonamarg, where EPG had successfully secured a court order banning vehicular movement up to the Thajwas Glacier area. “When Bollywood film makers came to shoot in Thajwas, vehicles were freely moving in the area. It took EPG just two days to get a ban order from the Division Bench of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court — and that ban is still in force,” he said, hinting that similar legal action could again be taken if the government does not act.
“The forests are meant for wildlife; it is their natural abode,” Bakshi said. “They have as much right to live peacefully as human beings have. Any activity that disturbs the natural ecosystem is not only legally wrong but morally as well.” He warned that EPG was ready to approach the High Court once again to seek a judicial ban and punitive action against the offenders.
Responding to the justification by some participants that there are no entry gates or forest guards to stop them, Bakshi said such arguments were untenable. “There is a vast difference between carrying on a legitimate activity and an illegitimate one,” he said.
The EPG Convenor also warned that such reckless behaviour increases man-animal conflict. “Every year, people and wild animals lose their lives due to the shrinking of forest spaces. We must act responsibly, within the framework of law. Let us live and let live,” he appealed.
Calling for urgent intervention, Bakshi urged the Forest Department and district administrations concerned to take decisive action. “It will take very little time to get it banned by the High Court if the government fails to act. The time to act is now — before these meadows and forests are lost forever,” he said.
