Details

Written by: MUSHTAQ PAHALGAMI

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 28 June 2016

PAHALGAM: 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.

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!