Amarnath Ji Yatra sanitation!!!

June 29,2018:Expressing concerns over degradation of Himalayan region's fragile ecology,  prominent  environmentalist Mushtaq Pahalgami demanded that the ongoing  Amarnath pilgrimage be undertaken in accordance with the standards set in the environmental policy of the state.
The state  government and shrine board should take care of the fragile environment in the Amarnath Cave and its surroundings from pahalgam to holy cave and holy cave to sonamarg , he said. "Just like the principles of conservation of environment and administrative facilitation in the Gangotri pilgrimage and the larger conservation plans for the Ganga River are applied to the pilgrimage, we expect the state government to apply the similar standards in Amarnath yatra", said pahalgami.
He asked the government to get a group of environmental experts study the impact of the unregulated pilgrim rush on the ecology of the Amarnath area and recommend measures to be taken to regulate the same keeping in view the environmental concerns of the people.
"I appeal the environmentalists to come forward to suggest how to address their concerns. The collection and the disposal of solid waste during yatra period is a problem area which needs to be focused on." he added.
"The environmental experts should suggest measures for the protection and conservation of fragile environment in the Himalayan region in the upcoming yatra set to begin on June 28", he said, also raising concerns about open defecation in jungles by BSF men in compartment 35 LDR, expressing hope that shrine board  and the state govt. will do the needful to maintain proper sanitation and hygiene in the yatra period this time.

Mushtaq Pahalgami,
Himalayan Welfare Organization-HWO

SAVE KOLAHOI , SAVE LIDDER ECOSYSTEM

SAVE KOLAHOI , SAVE LIDDER ECOSYSTEM

June 26,2018:Originating from the Kolahoi glacier near upper reaches of pahalgam and Sonamarg , and flowing for nearly 30 kms through the pristine Liddewat region before the Sheshnag and Kolahoi streamlets join to make it a river at Pahalgam, Lidder is a 73km long river and a major tributary of Jhelum, joining the latter at  Khanabal. River Lidder supplies water for drinking and irrigation for a very large population in the region and commands a vast area of land. Sadly the source of the river has severely receded in the last 20 years and is projected to continue to recede by about 3 meters a year. The Kolahoi has indeed lost almost 18% of its total volume in the last 4 decades  as per expert reports. The reason is partly natural but also in part induced by climate change due to man’s thermogenic activity in the region. Unfortunately much of the avoidable damage is being done to both the glacial region as well as to Lidder itself by continued and unaccounted for private/military/commercial expeditions to the upper reaches as well as by activities like illegal encroachment, deforestation and construction in the area lining the river’s course, illegal garbage dumping and sewage discharge, vehicle washing etc. Recent constructions including private hotels in Movera Yaner ,Langanbal,Amadzoo and other places  area have been built almost inside the river’s basin and flood-plains and threaten to disrupt the course and ecology of the river. The Himalayan Welfare Organization (HWO), Pahalgam has repeatedly brought up the question of the involvement of some senior government officials bureaucrats capitalists and some politicians in the matter and will soon formally launch the ‘Save Lidder Valley’ campaign to help restraint vested private interests determined to destroy the natural ecosystems of the Lidder Valley. We have also repeatedly tried to intervene to stop illegal land grab and construction in the region through information campaigns, seminars and media outreach and through use of instruments like the Right to information RTI, but both the scale and expanse of the problem is increasing by the day, posing new challenges and requiring newer and wider response. We seek everybody’s support in this and request friends in the media, scientific/academic community and school children to come together and join us in creating awareness about the matter and help us resist those who violate the Hon’ble High Court’s restrictions on construction and other activities in the region. We need to urgently understand that without Lidder there will be no Lidder Valley and without its source glacier  Kolahoi, there will be no Lidder. Save the glaciers, save river ecosystems!

Mushtaq Pahalgami,
Himalayan Welfare Organization-HWO

Environmental Conservation and Green Development!!!

Environmental Conservation and Green Development !!!

18 June 2018:People who are concerned with protecting the environment often use the terms preservation and conservation. These two terms are often confused and are generally used to mean the same thing, although differences exist.
Conservation of environment simply implies the sustainable use as well as management of natural resources which include wildlife, water, air, and earth deposits. There are renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Conservation of natural resources generally focuses on the needs & interests of human beings, for instance the biological, economic, cultural and recreational values. Conservationists have the view that development is necessary for a better future, but only when the changes occur in ways that are not wasteful.                                                                                                         As far as preservation of environment is concerned, it tries to maintain the present condition areas of the nature or Earth which are not yet touched by humans. This is because of the fat that mankind is encroaching onto the environment at such a rate that various wild landscapes are being given over to farming, industry, housing, tourism and other human developments. And we lose much of the natural areas. Preservationists also strongly support the protection of nature for purely human-centered reasons. However, some adopts less human-centered approach to environmental protection, placing a value on nature that does not relate to the needs and interests of human beings. But is a fact that by preserving and conserving environment we can make a healthy atmosphere to live in.
Environmental preservation is viewed or seen as the setting aside of earthly resources for preventing damage normally caused by contact with humans or by certain human activities, such as logging, mining, hunting, and fishing, only to replace them with new human activities such as tourism and recreation. Furthermore regulations and laws may be enacted for the preservation of natural resources. Being earth friendly is very essential as this will save our planet at the time making a better place to live in for us, for future generations.
Some common steps that need to be taken to ensure sustainable and green development include fair and regular assessment of environmental damage and accordingly formulated replenishment and conservation/preservation measures like tree plantation, preservation and restoration of natural water bodies and dedicated efforts at conserving the flora and fauna. Concretization and rapid concretelization  has to be opposed at all cost and eco-friendly and regulated construction has to be promoted. Small scale and low impact tourism must be promoted and proper treatment of waste before disposal must be ensured. A Finally, strategies for a sustainable engagement with conservation and preservation have to be evolved and implemented with full zeal and a civil society campaign initiated to the effect.

Mushtaq Pahalgami,
Himalayan Welfare Organization-HWO

***Happy World Environment Day 5 June 2018***

***Happy World Environment Day  5 June 2018***

The theme for 2018 is beating plastic pollution.

4 June 2018:World Environment Day is the UN's most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.

World Environment Day is the "people's day" for doing something to take care of the Earth. That "something" can be focused locally, nationally or globally; it can be a solo action or involve a crowd. Everyone is free to choose.

The is organized around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern.

Mushtaq Pahalgami,
Himalayan Welfare Organization-HWO

June 04,2018: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 4 June 2018!

Hugs not Slugs.
Kids deserve to be Happy, Healthy,and Safe....

June 04,2018: International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression  4 June 2018!

The United Nations' (UN) International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression is observed on June 4 each year. The purpose of the day is to acknowledge the pain suffered by children throughout the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse. This day affirms the UN's commitment to protect the rights of children.

Mushtaq Pahalgami,
Himalayan Welfare Organization-HWO