Migratory Birds Reach Shallabugh Wetland

While the migratory birds have already started to visit the valley’s several wetlands, the Shallabugh Wetland located some 8 kilometers from district Ganderbal has also started receiving the flying visitors.“We have received here over one lakh migratory birds that come from different parts of the globe,” in-charge, Wetland Shallabugh, Abdul Rashid Wani said.

Spread over about 14.6 square kilometres, Shallabugh wetland receives lakhs of flying visitors every year. This year, the number of the flying visitors, as per the officials, is a bit lesser than the previous years. However, the Wani said, “We are quite optimistic about receiving the good number of these migratory birds, like in previous years, in days ahead, provided the water here does not freeze.”

Last year, Shallabugh wetland had received over six lakh flying visitors, which is a record.The migratory birds come to the Valley every year, covering thousands of miles from far off lands.Connected with the famous Aanchar Sar and the Sangam Sar on the South, Shallabugh wetland is the Asia’s biggest wetland reserve.“This season, the 'migratory birds started to throng the wetland since November and the outward migration is expected to start from March and end in mid-April," Wani said.

The migratory birds which visit this wetland mostly come from Siberia, Central Asia, Northern Europe, Ladakh, China and Central Asia.

Some of the popular migratory birds visiting the Shallabugh reserve include goose, bar goose, white heeled duck, shoveller, red-crested Pochard, white-eyed Pochard, common Teal, Pintail, Mallard, Gadwall, Coot, Hoonk and Graylag.Among these, Pintail, Common Teal and Gadwall are the birds visiting this wetland in great number than others.To check the menaces of hunting in the Shallabugh Wetland, wildlife wetland department has increased the vigil here. Besides, being a wetland and the home for the lakhs of flying visitors, Shallabugh in the past used to be an important tourist destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. The pollution in this wetland since decades by the valley's premier health insititue, Sher-i- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura coupled with the inflow of wastes and litter emanating from different hamlets on its peripheries is distracting the tourists.

The officials in wetland had communicated the problem to the SKIMS authorities, who took some measures initially. But the enthusiasm died down later.An environmentalist and a Research Scholar of Dab Mohammad Abbas Bhat said the emanations of bio-medical wastes from SKIMS are the hazardous substances which affect and destroy the flora as well as fauna in this wetland.“Use of pesticides, DDT and insecticides by farmers whose run off reaches ultimately this wetland ultimately causes death to thousands of these species which force them to change the habitat and influence their mating patterns,” he said.

Winged visitors flock to Kashmir

With winter setting in Kashmir, over six lakh migratory birds from Europe and Central Asia have flocked to Hokersar bird reserve and other wetlands in the Valley. Every year, thousands of migratory birds from Siberia, the Philippines, eastern Europe, China and Japan fly long distances to escape extreme winter conditions in their native places and search for food. Besides Hokersar, the winged visitors flocked to Wullar lake and other wetlands like Hygam, Shalibugh and Mirgund in surrounding areas. "Over six lakh birds have already arrived in the Valley and 4,000 to 5,000 winged visitors are coming daily...If this trend continues, we might have an all time high arrival of migratory birds in the wetlands this year," Wildlife Warden Abdul Rauf Zargar said. Last year, nearly eight lakh winged visitors arrived in Kashmir. Brahminy Duck, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Garganey, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Common Merganser, Northern Pintail, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Pochard, Red-Crested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Northern Shoveler, Common Teal, and Eurasian Wigeon are some of the most sighted birds in the wetlands.

Meanwhile, wildlife officials and locals are concerned about the sudden rise in the population of Moore and Swamp Hen in Hokersar. "Rise in the population of Moore or Swamp Hen reflects growth of large reeds and weeds in wetlands...It is not a good sign," Ishtiaq Ahmad, a local resident, said. The other worrying factors are encroachments and induced willow and poplar plantation in the wetlands. "These are fatal blows to the wetlands. The government should frame a policy for removing the encroachments, induced willow and poplar plantations and illegal paddy cultivation from wetlands in the valley," a wildlife official said. Meanwhile, the wildlife department has formed special anti-poaching squads to check bird hunting, banned in 2001 in the state, inside and outside the wetlands.

Heavy rains in Jammu

The winter capital of the state today witnessed heavy rainfall during morning hours. While it cooled down temperatures, bringing down mercury from 31.6 degrees Celsius to 29.6 degrees, it played havoc with life in the winter capital as it resulted in severe water logging at many crossings and markets of Jammu city. The roof of a house also collapsed at Rajpura Mangotrian area but no one was injured in the accident.

Heavy rains today morning lashed entire Jammu province which also resulted into water logging at many places due to choking of drains and accumulation of filth and garbage. Due to unclean drains, water logging took place at Kunjwani Chowk, Dogra Chowk, Krishna Nagar, road adjoining RRL labouratory, Bhagwati Nagar which also resulted in traffic jams at many crossing points.

Near Asia Chowk there was around 1 to 2 feet of water logging which halted the traffic flow for few minutes. The Dogra Chowk was looking like a mini-pool and water logging was around 2 feet deep. Some two wheelers also met with accidents due to deep water logging.

JMC authorities pressed their men and machinery into action to de-log rain water which had accumulated on roads especially at Dogra Chowk by using Suction machines, JCB’s and labourers but all in vain.  After few hours when rain fall stopped, water logging areas became clear.

The drains of Pacca Danga and Kali Janni area were choked with garbage, consequently the overflowing drains water entered into few shops. Shopkeepers of the area while criticising the JMC authorities said that it was only due to carelessness of JMC authorities that the rain water had entered into their shops.

The roof of a house also collapsed in Rajpura Mangotrian area due to heavy rains. No physical loss has been reported in the roof collapse but some household items were buried under the debris of roof.

Metereological department authorities said that due to strong monsoon currents Jammu city today recorded 19.4 mm of rainfall in between 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Banihal recorded 0.2 mm, Batote 1.0 mm, Katra recorded 23.4 mm of rainfall. While Srinagar, Kupwara and Kajikund recorded no rainfall while as Pahalgam recorded 1.0 mm, Kokernag recorded 0.2 mm of rainfall in between 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Authorities further added that there are possibilities of rains and thundershowers as also one or two spells of heavy rainfall in Jammu region in the next 24 hours.

“Metereological department had issued warnings of heavy rainfall over Amarnath cave shrine at around 10 AM due to which the pilgrimage remained suspended for few hours. But after the clouds shattered the pilgrimage was restored.” Met officials added. 

Orchards contribution

Orchards contribute to increase in man animal conflict

The change in the land usage from paddy cultivation to orchards might have benefited the fruit production in the valley; it has however contributed to the increasing man-animal conflict in Kashmir.In addition to several other causes responsible for the upsurge in man-animal conflict over the past few years, the change in the land use pattern happens to be one of them.

“There are many reasons which have led to the increase in man-animal conflict. One of them is the change in the land usage pattern from paddy cultivation to orchards owing to water shortage,” said Intesar Suhail, wildlife warden, Shopian Suhail said that fruits are the most attractive food for the black bear which are responsible for 80 percent of attacks on humans.

“We have young orchards coming up on the fringes of forests. The fresh fruit attract  bears who come to orchards to feed themselves. Also, eating from orchards is much more efforts less for animals than other things which adds to their attraction towards orchards,” said Suhail

He revealed that initially, the owners of orchards would keep the rotten fruits in the orchards in open which would provide food for black bears.

“But now the same rotten fruits is kept safe and sold in the market which fetches food price. So the black bear have the fresh fruits on trees available to them,” says Suhail adding that they also get complaints of damage caused to trees.

Besides the blanket ban on poaching, loss of natural habitat and upcoming residential houses near forest are responsible for the increase in man-animal conflict.

Suhail informed that some years back, a pass would be issued for poaching on bears but after the blanket ban on poaching there has been no check on population and the wildlife is benefited.

“There has been loss of natural habitats to wild animals. And people have started living in their orchards near forest which puts them into danger,” says Suhail

Regarding the leopard attacks it was learnt that some leopard develop man eating tendency, as has been found in many parts of the country, and they are eliminated.

“Leopard attacks  are rare and when such attack takes place, we do analysis of the characteristics of that leopard. Then if needed we eliminate it as per the guidelines of law” adds Suhail

Man animal conflict has claimed six lives in the state in the past two months. Two people were reportedly killed in Doda, two in South and two in North Kashmir as revealed by wildlife department.

Wildlife warden (headquarters) M.A. Parsa said, “People have started living near the forests which is triggering such incidents. This never happened before.”

About the steps being taken by the wildlife department to control the man-animal conflict Suhail said that since they cannot completely control such incidents they ensure immediately control of the situation.

“We ensure that when any such attack takes places, our team reaches there immediately to control the situation. We also provide relief to the victims well,” informs Suhail.

Conservation work of Wullar Lake from next month

The conservation work of Asia’s biggest Wullar Lake would be started soon, said Minister for Forests and Environment Mian Altaf Ahmad during his visit to the site identified for taking up conservation work of the Lake.

He said the Centre has already approved project of Rs 120 crore for its development, adding till the Government constitutes Wullar Development Authority, the job has been assigned to a team of officers under the supervision of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to initiate the implementation of the project from next month after completion of all codal formalities.

During his tour to Bandipora, the Minister visited Gujjar basti’s Argham and Malangam, to assess their problems and developmental needs. He issued on-the-spot instructions to the concerned officers for mitigating genuine problems.

The Minister while addressing public meetings at Argham and Malangam said that all-round development of Gujjar and Pahari people is also top agenda of the Government, adding that several steps have been taken to fulfill the aspirations and developmental needs of the community.

Mian Altaf said in democratic set up every citizen has right to seek justice in development process and called upon Gujjar community to come forward and struggle for the share which the Government under various sectors kept for their development.

Responding to the demands of locals, the Minister announced that two timber sale depots would be opened in Gujjar belt Argham. He instructed concerned engineers to make result oriented projects for upgradation of basic amenities in the area. He said that two mobile schools for Gujjar and Bakarwals would also be opened in Malangam belt, besides setting up of Handicrafts Centres, improvement in road connectivity, drinking water, power supply, education and health care would be taken up with concerned authorities. He directed district administration to ensure speedy development of Gujjar community under district, State and Centrally sponsored plans on priority so that these people would feel succor.

BABAYN to commence yatra on June 14

Baba Amarnath Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas, (BABAYN) a conglomeration of several social, trade and religious organizations, today said it will march to the Amarnath cave on June 14, fortnight before the date announced by the shrine board, and claimed that over 40,000 pilgrims have registered with it.

Niyas dared the state government to "interfere in their programme." The conglomeration is not happy with the shorter yatra period - between June 29 and August 13, which was announced by Governor-headed Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

President of BAN Surinder Mohan Aggarwal said the organisation will head as per the schedule and will perform a yagya on June 13 at Ranvireshwar temple here before leaving for the holy cave.

"Although we have not received any intimation from the government so far, but our doors will always remain open for any consultations pertaining the date of the yatra," he said.

Aggarwal said "SASB has no control over the fixation of dates and said that their role is limited only to the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage."

He also maintained that if the government does not provide security to their march to the holy cave, the Niyas will make all the arrangements for the yatra themselves.