SRINAGAR: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has urged the Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag, Syeed Fakhrudin, to take urgent action against alleged unauthorised construction within the Aru–Overa Wildlife Sanctuary, a notified eco-sensitive and no-construction zone in central Kashmir.
In a letter to the administration, the EPG claimed that ongoing activities in the Aru Valley and adjoining areas include unapproved foundations, slope cutting, earth filling, and damage to natural vegetation. The EPG said these interventions threaten wildlife movement, disrupt natural water channels, and destabilise fragile slopes, posing a risk of irreversible ecological degradation in the high-altitude Himalayan ecosystem.
EPG convenor Faiz Bakshi stated that credible field reports indicate construction is underway without statutory approvals, wildlife clearances, or oversight by the Wildlife Department. The organisation also highlighted the construction of a new road at Mamal in Pahalgam, within the sanctuary, noting that similar activities at the same location had previously been halted following official intervention.
The group warned that such unauthorised development not only harms the environment but also risks undermining eco-tourism-dependent livelihoods of local communities, which rely on the preservation of the region’s pristine landscape.
EPG has requested the district administration to immediately halt all ongoing construction activities and conduct a time-bound joint inspection to assess alleged violations and environmental damage. The organisation emphasised that swift action is essential to prevent permanent ecological harm and reaffirm the administration’s commitment to environmental governance and the rule of law.
