Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Mar 20: While the Government has been talking much about promoting adventure tourism in Kashmir, it has at the same time failed to regulate the motorsport in Valley even as due to the conduct of the sport in the absence of norms, the fragile ecologies of the forest areas are taking a giant hit.
There are several motor sporting clubs operating in Kashmir that conduct a number of off-road rallies in various parts of the Valley, however, they carry out the same without adhering to the rules and regulations laid down by its governing body.
In this regard, the Government has also, so far, failed in coming up with a policy aimed at regulating the motorsports in Valley as a result of which the landscapes, pastures and other fragile areas in the forests are at constant risk of suffering severe damages.
Those who are associated with the sport, and want it to be carried out in a regulated, and professional manner-as is being done in other parts of the country-told Excelsior that even the administration is unaware of rules, while they rue the unprofessional handling of the same in Kashmir.
As of now, almost all the off-road rallies that are being carried out across Kashmir lack the supervision of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) which is the governing body for motorsports in India, and not only results in risking the lives of the participants but also disturbs the ecological balance of the forest areas.
With the failure of the Government in regulating motorsport in Kashmir, many motorsport enthusiasts are staying away from the sport while they also believe that there have not been any major regulations put in place for motorsport by the Government in Kashmir.
One of the pioneers of motorsport in J&K, Toufeeq Mughal told Excelsior that there is nothing in the name of regulations in place in Kashmir while the events are held in the name of off-roading, lack the requirements and do not follow the FMSCI guidelines.
“There is no specific track or area identified by the Government for the motorsport, and there is a severe lack of know-how. Amid this, the conduct of such events not only endanger the ecology but also put the lives of the participants at risk; there is a need for the Government to put in place the necessary SOPs if they want the sport to continue,” he said.
Earlier, it is to be noted here that a complaint was filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by an activist who sought necessary action for the violations committed by one of the clubs that had arranged an off-road event.
Following the complaint, the NGT ordered constitution of a Joint Committee of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, State Pollution Control Board, Secretary Tourism, Kashmir and the respective District Commissioners which has so far carried several field visits, however, a formal complete report is yet to be formulated.
The officials of the State Pollution Control Board told Excelsior that on the directions of the NGT, the necessary survey is being carried out at the specific areas that are used for the off-roading.
“The NGT had flagged several violations following which the committee formed has looked into the same. The committee could not visit a few areas that were snow-bound, however, by the first week of April, the survey will be carried out and selected tracks would be delineated specifically for the conduct of motorsports,” the officials said.
They added that the delineation of the tracks is going to be the first step towards the Government plan of regulating motorsports in Kashmir. However, to get the Government’s stand on the issue, Secretary Tourism, Kashmir Sarmad Hafeez did not respond to repeated calls from this reporter.
The concerned people associated with the sport said that FMSCI intervention in this regard is necessary and if the Government is serious about it, then the same should be done professionally. “Otherwise, the same should be banned,” they said.
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