Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 2: With government claiming of protecting the flora and fauna, the authorities are themselves facilitating the disturbance of the Dachigam.
Dachigam National Park is located 22 kilometers from Srinagar. However, the authorities are themselves creating disturbance there. This was witnessed recently when authorities invited students, social activists, and employees of various departments to Dachigam. "The authorities invited students from various departments like botany, zoology of Kashmir University and Central University to hold a survey on Hangul. Even students of Law were also invited," a source said. "However there was no restrictions on the vehicles. There were some representatives of civil society groups who went in their cars inside over 10 kilometres of Dachigam. Even the authorities allowed under age students without taking any precautionary measures," the source said. "Due to allowing of 150 vehicles, there has been disturbance for last few days," the source said. The survey was to be conducted from March 22 for a week and concluding function will be held later this month.
The source said that it was only in Kashmir when vehicles are allowed inside a wildlife sanctuary. "The wild animals easily get disturbed by horns and is reason they go to populated areas," the source said.
An official said the artificial demarcation of its boundaries was done at few places and the civilian population was also residing in its area at several places, posing a serious threat to its species.
"The absence of boundaries and fencing, local live stock of the surrounding areas of the Dachigam Wildlife Park goes on a grazing spree in its upper reaches resulting in heavy habitat degradation and may a times catch fire," the official said. The incidents of forests fire have been witnessing a drastic increase across the Valley. He said that the increase in forest fires happen due to non-demarcation of forest land in the state. "Had the forests been demarcated in the state and restricted the movement of vehicles, less such incidents would have happened," the official said.
In 2011, the government made the proposal for demarcation of forest land including Dachigam National Park. Seven years down the line, the project has not been executed in the state.
The government had also made a proposal for the demarcation of the Dachigam National Park, which spreads over141 sq km. However, so far the authorities have not identified its area, which extends in North to Dara Block, Sindh Forest Division, Overa Aru wildlife Sanctuary and in South to Ridges of Cheshmashahi forests, Khanmoh Khrew forests, Hajin and Narastan and Zowirstan forests. Its boundaries in east extend to lake Marsar and in the West Harwan water reservoir and Zabarwan Forests.
"It only appears on papers that Dachigam spreads over 141 sq km but the authorities have failed to identify the area. Even a proposal was framed years ago for its proper demarcation, which has been shelved for unknown reasons," an official of the Wild Life Department, said. |
