Encroachments, illegal earth-cutting ravage Tangmarg
Baramulla, Dec 13: Unchecked encroachments and illegal earth-cutting are ravaging Tangmarg, a verdant haven in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
This unfolding environmental crisis threatens not only the fragile ecosystem of this most sought-after tourist destination but also questions the accountability of those entrusted to protect it.
Allegations of influential hands at play, illegal road construction, and buried trees have cast a shadow over the region’s natural beauty.
The forest land encroachments and extensive earth cutting are going unchecked in the Tangmarg subdivision of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, posing a threat to the environment.
The move has raised serious concerns about the blatant destruction of resources and the alleged involvement of influential individuals and authorities.
One such location is the Qazipora area near Dar-ul-Uloom where extensive illegal earth-cutting has devastated the area.
There are allegations about numerous Deodar trees having been buried under mounds of soil.
Also, a major road axis has reportedly been granted illegally to the owner of a cottage near Ziran.
The influential individuals have allegedly encroached on protected forest land which has raised queries about how the permissions were obtained from the competent authorities.
Similarly, the forest land along the Munawar Road in the same area along the Banal Canal has been completely encroached upon by several hoteliers.
Such encroachments have resulted in the loss of a significant portion of green cover in the area.
The violations have been reported in connection with an influential individual where forest land has been allegedly misused.
The move has raised questions over the accountability of the officers.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, MLA Tangmarg, Farooq Ahmad Shah expressed concern over the issue and said a detailed report would be sought from the concerned officials.
“I will take up the matter with the concerned officers and direct them to submit a detailed report regarding the issue,” the MLA Tangmarg told Greater Kashmir.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Minga Sherpa said he would look into the matter.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Tangmarg, Ishtiyaq Ahmad Tanga told Greater Kashmir that he would personally visit all the sites.
Meanwhile, Range Officer Gulmarg said that on the basis of the report of the in-charge of the area, the spot under question near Qazipora does not fall under the forest area.
“We have seen the area and it falls outside the forest limits. We apprehended violations when the new construction was to be started in the area earlier. We counted all the trees and the construction has been done without damaging the (deodar) trees,” the Range Officer said.
About the violation reported on the land near Ziran, the Range Officer said that in 2022 an attempt was made by a party to encroach upon the road which was not allowed by the Forest Department.
“On this land, at times, we see school buses parked but there is no access to the cottage owner on the land,” he said.
Regarding the encroachment on Munawar Road, the Range Officer said that the spot was the boundary line of forest land which marks the end of the forest area.
“Basically, there are some spots which seem to be in the jurisdiction of the Forest Department but officially the spot falls outside the forest area,” he said.
About the encroachment of forest land, the official said that last year during the construction of the plinth, they immediately took action after it was observed that some portion of forest land was being encroached upon.
He said that a joint inspection of all these spots could be done to ascertain the actual position.
