Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 26: In a clear violation of Forest Protection Act and Environment Act 1986, Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) is pushing virgin Baisaran meadow in famed Pahalgam tourist destination into environmental disarray by unlimited human intervention.
The quest for money masquerading as promotion of adventure sports has degraded the green cover of Baisaran meadow as private players whose sole motive is to earn money have been given the licence to carry on sports activities like Zorbing and mountain biking. “There is no regulation in the pony and vehicular traffic and PDA has failed to stop them at fence line,” said a local.
The meadows were once used by indigenous tribal people to feed their cattle and shepherds also used to rare their livestock in these meadows but lack of conservation measures is impacting the sustainable development.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a social activist, said the Pahalgam Development Authority has earned millions of rupees from Baisaran in the form of entry fee and by allowing unregulated sports activities like Zorbing. “But both PDA and Forest department have totally failed to save the sensitive and ecologically fragile meadows of Baisaran to the extent that one feels like they are killing the goose which lays golden eggs,” he said.
“As per Environment Act, 1986, both Authority of Forest department and Pahalgam Development Authority can be charged for this neglect and lack of intervention. If these authorities fail to protect conserve and restore Baisaran we will be compelled to take the matter to the Green Tribunal Court against them,” said Mushtaq.
He said they have repeatedly approached and requested the senior officials of both PDA and Forest Department to order necessary fencing of Baisaran “but we were told that the same cannot be carried out without the concerned department’s secretary approving it, which has not been done to date”.
He said: “The truth is that the PDA is outsourcing the maintenance and operations of all important places in Pahalgam for money, leading to a dangerous and rapid destruction of the natural beauty and ecological balance of these fragile local ecosystems,” adding: “We request both the concerned authorities to take immediate note of the problem and immediately order fencing and restoration of these sites along with cancellation of outsourcing contracts.”
When contacted, a top official of PDA, Riyaz Ahmad said in order to develop tourism they have spotted and undertaken Baisaran and it is already adding to the overall income of the Pahalgam. When asked about the fragility of environment he said: “Late Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed clearly ordered us that it should be preserved and despite having motorable roads no vehicle is allowed to go there.”
He said that they are already following the guidelines as laid by Environmental Impact Assessment Committee. “We are safe and sound till we receive five thousand visitors per day. We have not yet crossed that mark. We can have 18 lakh people per annum and last year we have had only 6 lakh visitors. So we are safe. In our new upper master plan and mitigation plan we have given more importance to environment,” he added.
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