Sir,
This refers to the writeup’Shrinking Grasslands in State'(DE, Dec 9,2014).The writer has rightly expressed his concern over the fast shrinking area under grasslands in our state and elsewhere.There was a time when a large expanse of area,especially in the upper reaches of our mountains and hills, was covered under grasslands.But,there has been, undoubtedly, depletion of the grasslands at an alarming rate in our state over the last few years.The grasslands are being shrunk by people for agricultural and residential purposes.Nomads and farmers also cover the grasslands for grazing their cattle, goats and sheep. Deforestation due to unplanned urbanization and population explosion is also responsible for shrinking of area under grasslands.This trend of fast vanishing of grasslands is leading to the precious loss of many species of flora and fauna and consequent loss of biodiversity.There was a time when grasslands in the form of meadows and pastures , especially in the higher reaches in our state, provided forage and grass to the goats, sheep and other animals of nomads such as Gaddis, Gujjars and Bakerwals. Not only this,in these pastures and meadows,existed a large number of herbs and shrubs having medicinal value which were used by the nomads and Ayurvedacharyas for preparing medicines and using them for the cure of everyday ailments.But surprisingly, many of these herbs and shrubs in these grasslands have either become extinct or on the verge of becoming extinct.
Thus, the need of the hour is to take urgent measures to prevent shrinking of pastures and other grasslands in order to conserve valuable biodiversity.The pastures and meadows need to be conserved and preserved by declaring them as ‘protected areas’ and imposing a ban on the entry of people there to help in regeneration of the species which are on the verge of extinction.The common lands in the villages under grazing lands for cattle( ghacharai) have also been occupied illegally for the agricultural and residential purposes.As such, what is needed is the demarcation of area under them and sincere efforts on the part of the concerned authorities to free them from the illegal occupation of the encroachers.
Yours truly,
Yours etc….
Ashok Sharma,
Udhampur
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