Govt sets up committees to protect eco-sensitive wildlife zones

Srinagar, Apr 3: The Jammu and Kashmir administration constituted committees to protect Eco-sensitive wildlife zones in the union territory.
The high-level committees will monitor and protect eco-sensitive zones around Dachigam National Park, Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary, and Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary to balance tourism development with environmental conservation in these fragile ecosystems.
A 22-member Monitoring Committee will be responsible for enforcing environmental protection measures in these eco-sensitive zones. Headed by the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, the group includes top officials from forest, tourism, urban development and pollution control departments along with academic experts.
The team will review all proposed activities in these protected areas, file legal complaints against violations, and submit annual progress reports to ensure accountability.
A separate committee has been formed to specifically guide tourism development in these sensitive areas.
Chaired by the Forest Department’s Administrative Secretary, this group will recommend environment-friendly construction methods for new hotels and resorts.
The committee includes engineering experts from IIT Jammu who will assess geological risks like landslides and earthquakes, suggesting safe building practices that minimize ecological damage.
The measures come as popular tourist destinations near these protected areas face growing pressure from unregulated development.
Dachigam National Park, home to Kashmir’s iconic Hangul deer, has seen increasing human activity at its borders. Similarly, Thajwas Glacier near Sonamarg and the Overa-Aru biosphere reserve have witnessed tourism expansion raising environmental concerns.
The government order directs both committees to strictly follow guidelines from a 2006 Environment Ministry notification (S.O. 1553(E)) that defines permitted and prohibited activities in eco-sensitive zones. Academic members like University of Kashmir botanists will provide scientific input while wildlife wardens and forest officers will monitor ground-level implementation.
The committees are expected to begin work immediately, with their first annual reports due by June 2026. Tourism stakeholders have also been asked to cooperate with the new regulations aimed at ensuring sustainable growth of the vital industry. (KNO)