Kashmir Drainage System in Shambles

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News Kashmir Exclusive

Drainage systems are key areas of development and contribute to sustainable development  of city and  balance the diverse issues that influence the development of communities. An efficient drainage system has to take into account many realities. Approaches to manage surface water that take account of water quantity (flooding), water quality (pollution) and amenity issues are collectively referred to as Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

Kashmir Valley has over the decades seen its drainage system going from bad to worse. Few hours of rain are enough to waterlog and flood the streets of Srinagar city and other areas of Kashmir. Thanks to inefficient drainage system Kashmir gets converted into a cesspool of mud and water as soon as it rains . The drains start  overflowing with just few millimeters of rains . Be it heart of Srinagar the areas like  Maisuma, Regal chowk, MA Road or Old City areas of Nowhatta and Khanyar  and many other parts the drainage system fails immediately  . On the other hand, scores of areas have no drainage system  in place. The low lying areas are the worst hit where residents state that  slight shower blocked flow of water and as streets gets choked they are restricted to homes.

Importantly, the devastating floods that shattered Kashmir Valley in 2014 had caused much damage to its fragile drainage system but no noticeable efforts have been made to repair the same. No new drainage project had been started in the last few years which are complicating the matters further.

Sheikh Sameer, a teacher by profession, while commenting on this issue states-“The drainage system of entire Kashmir Valley presents an abject outlook. During this current rain-spell it has been badly exposed, with water logging and Jamming almost entire Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley. There are many illegal structures – few of them even inside the flood spill channels. Many government offices have come inside or near those channels. They have been choked leaving a little room for water to discharge. Unfortunately enough, our world famous  lakes have  slowly migrated from the status of being a fresh water lakes to becoming a part of drainage system where they have  become a recipient of all the discharges from households to industrial effluents without these wastes actually being checked by  any filtering systems. We are witness  to the fact that government is sleeping over the issue. Pertinently,  Illegal encroachment are  still going on rather intensified after September 2014 floods and no initiative have been taken  to take them task. In the majority of the areas of Kashmir the drainage system has failed miserably . It is important that all drainage systems are properly maintained and at  regular intervals .Government need to outsource this entire Drainage and flood management system as the current setup is failing to achieve any concrete result on this count.”

As a matter of great worry, our existing  drainage systems  causes grave problems of flooding, pollution or damage to the environment and are not proving to be sustainable in the context of wider challenges from climate change and urbanization, and current drainage system   is virtually in mess   .

Transfusion Transmitted Infections

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By Raashid Ahsaan

A number of infectious diseases (such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, among others) can be passed from the donor to recipient.

Among the diseases than can be transmitted via transfusion are:

When a person’s need for a transfusion can be anticipated, as in the case of scheduled surgery, autologous donation can be used to protect against disease transmission and eliminate the problem of blood type compatibility. “Directed” donations from donors known to the recipient were a common practice during the initial years of HIV. These kinds of donations are still common in developing countries.

Processing of blood prior to transfusion

Donated blood is usually subjected to processing after it is collected, to make it suitable for use in specific patient populations. Examples include:

  • Component separation: red cells, plasma and platelets are separated into different containers and stored in appropriate conditions so that their use can be adapted to the patient’s specific needs. Red cells work as oxygen transporters, plasma is used as a supplement of coagulation factors, and platelets are transfused when their number is very scarce or their function severely impaired. Blood components are usually prepared by centrifugation.
  • Leukoreduction, also known as Leukodepletion is the removal of white blood cells from the blood product by filtration. Leukoreduced blood is less likely to cause alloimmunization (development of antibodies against specific blood types), and less likely to cause febrile transfusion reactions.
    • Chronically transfused patients
    • Potential transplant recipients
    • Patients with previous febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction
    • Patients with hereditary immune deficiencies
    • Patients receiving blood transfusions from relatives in directed-donation programs
    • Patients receiving large doses of chemotherapy, undergoing stem cell transplantation, or with AIDS (controversial).
    • Neonatal transfusionTo ensure the safety of blood transfusion to pediatric patients, hospitals are taking additional precaution to avoid infection and prefer to use specially tested pediatric blood units that are guaranteed negative for Cytomegalovirus. Most guidelines recommend the provision of CMV-negative blood components and not simply leukoreduced components for newborns or low birthweight infants in whom the immune system is not fully developed. These specific requirements place additional restrictions on blood donors who can donate for neonatal use. Neonatal transfusions are usually top-up transfusions, exchange transfusions, partial exchange transfusions. Top-up transfusions are for investigational losses and correction of mild degrees of anemias, up to 5-15 ml/kg. Exchange transfusions are done for correction of anemia, removal of bilirubin, removal of antibodies and replacement of red cells. Ideally plasma-reduced red cells that are not older than 5 days are used.
  1. If an exchange transfusion is necessary, compatible blood must be ordered. If a severely affected ( i.e. hydropic) infant with Rh hemolytic disease is anticipated at birth, it may be necessary to have blood available in the nursery prior to the delivery. The request should be for O negative packed red blood cells of the specific volume needed and of the appropriate CMV status. This blood may be utilized in any one of the following ways:
  2. The RBC’s may be given as a simple transfusion (with or without additional Plasmanate) while stabilization of the infant is accomplished.
  3. The RBC’s may be used for a partial exchange transfusion to acutely elevate the hematocrit without changing the blood volume in a severely anemic baby.
  4. When the need for an emergency, complete exchange transfusion is virtually certain, arrangements can be made in advance for O negative whole blood or O negative PRBC’s resuspended in fresh frozen plasma.
  5. For double-volume exchange transfusions for hemolytic disease of the newborn or for hyperbilirubinemia without hemolysis, the blood used will be packed cells (type O, Rh specific for the infant) resuspended to the esired hematocrit in compatible fresh frozen plasma.
  6. A partial exchange transfusion is often done for polycythemia (see section on polycythemia). II. Although the standard anticoagulant (CPD) is acidic, the blood need not be buffered. If the infant is severely acidemic, consult the staff neonatologist. III. If possible, the infant should be NPO and the stomach contents aspirated prior to the procedure. IV. The exchange transfusion should be done under a radiant warmer using sterile technique.V. The donor blood should be warmed using the blood warmer to a temperature not exceeding 37oC. VI. The infants blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate and general condition should be monitored during the exchange transfusion according to standard nursing protocol.

VII. If the serum bilirubin concentration is at a dangerous level and the blood for exchange transfusion is not yet ready, consider priming the infant with 1 gram/kg (4 ml/kg) of a 25% solution of salt-poor albumin to bind additional bilirubin and keep it in the circulation until the exchange can be accomplished..

VIII. The umbilical vein catheter should be inserted until there is free flow of blood immediately prior to starting the exchange transfusion. See section on placement of umbilical catheters for technique. The exchange transfusion should not be done through an umbilical artery line unless the UAC is used only for blood withdrawal with simultaneous replacement through the umbilical vein or peripheral IV. At the beginning of the exchange transfusion, the first blood sample withdrawn should be sent for 1)total and direct bilirubin; 2) hemoglobin and hematocrit; 3) glucose; and 4) calcium.

  1. Use the “exchange transfusion kit”, which contains catheters, stopcocks, waste bag, and calcium gluconate.
  2. Ideally, blood (or colloid in the event of a partial volume exchange) should be infused through a peripheral vein at a rate equal to blood withdrawal from the UVC. If the “push-pull” (single catheter) technique is utilized, no more than 5 ml/kg body weight should be withdrawn at any one time.
  3. The exchange volume is generally twice the infant’s blood volume, (generally estimated to be 80 ml/kg). The total volume exchange should not exceed one adult unit of blood (450-500 ml). A standard two-volume exchange will remove approximately 85% of the red cells in circulation before the exchange and reduce the serum indirect bilirubin level by one-half. The exchange of blood should require a minimum of 45 minutes.

XII. The need for giving supplemental calcium is controversial. If used give 0.5 to 1.0 ml of 10% calcium gluconate IV, after each 100 ml of exchange blood. Monitor heart rate for bradycardia.

XIII. At the end of an exchange transfusion blood should be sent for sodium, glucose, calcium, total and direct bilirubin, and hemoglobin and hematocrit.

XIV. At the end of an exchange transfusion, the umbilical vein catheter is usually removed. In the event of a subsequent exchange, a new catheter can be inserted.

  1. Hypoglycemia often occurs in the first or second hour following an exchange transfusion. It is therefore necessary to monitor blood glucose levels for the first several hours after exchange.

XVI. The serum bilirubin concentration rebounds to a value approximately halfway between the pre- and post- exchange levels by two hours after completing the exchange transfusion. Therefore, the serum bilirubin concentration should be monitored at two to four hours after exchange and subsequently every three to four hours.

XVII. Feedings may be attempted two to four hours after the exchange transfusion.

Terminology

The terms type and screen are used for the testing that (1) determines the blood group (ABO compatibility) and (2) screens for alloantibodies. It takes about 45 minutes to complete (depending on the method used). The blood bank technologist also checks for special requirements of the patient (eg. need for washed, irradiated or CMV negative blood) and the history of the patient to see if they have a previously identified antibody.

A positive screen warrants an antibody panel/investigation. An antibody panel consists of commercially prepared group O red cell suspensions from donors that have been phenotyped for commonly encountered and clinically significant alloantibodies. Donor cells may have homozygous (e.g. K+k-), heterozygous (K+k+) expression or no expression of various antigens (K-k+). The phenotypes of all the donor cells being tested are shown in a chart. The patient’s serum is tested against the various donor cells using an enhancement method, eg Gel or LISS. Based on the reactions of the patient’s serum against the donor cells, a pattern will emerge to confirm the presence of one or more antibodies. Not all antibodies are clinically significant (i.e. cause transfusion reactions, HDN, etc). Once the patient has developed a clinically significant antibody it is vital that the patient receive antigen negative phenotyped red blood cells to prevent future transfusion reactions. A direct antiglobulin test (DAT) is also performed as part of the antibody investigation.

Once the type and screen has been completed, potential donor units will be selected based on compatibility with the patient’s blood group, special requirements (eg CMV negative, irradiated or washed) and antigen negative (in the case of an antibody). If there is no antibody present or suspected, the immediate spin or CAC (computer assisted crossmatch) method may be used.

In the immediate spin method, two drops of patient serum are tested against a drop of 3-5% suspension of donor cells in a test tube and spun in a serofuge. Agglutination or hemolysis in the test tube is a positive reaction and the unit should not be transfused.

If an antibody is suspected, potential donor units must first be screened for the corresponding antigen by phenotyping them. Antigen negative units are then tested against the patient plasma using an antiglobulin/indirect crossmatch technique at 37 degrees Celsius to enhance reactivity and make the test easier to read.

If there is no time the blood is called “uncross-matched blood”. Uncross-matched blood is O-positive or O-negative. O-negative is usually used for children and women of childbearing age. It is preferable for the laboratory to obtain a pre-transfusion sample in these cases so a type and screen can be performed to determine the actual blood group of the patient and to check for alloantibodies.

 

 

 

 

Kashmir losing forests

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Kashmir has seen brutal vandalization of its green gold. Forests have been mercilessly cut and as a result abnormal climate patterns have become norm. “Global warming” appears to have taken a toll on the climate patterns in Kashmir valley which has been experiencing a decline in snowfall and rise in temperature, a reality which even weather scientists have also found.

Pertinently, while analyzing the snow accumulation and ablation patterns in Pir Panjal and Shamshawari regions of the valley during the winters of 2004-05 to 2006-07, scientists have shown that the seasonal snow cover has reduced while the maximum temperature was increasing steadily. The climatic patterns are abnormal as dry spells are prolonged and rains are very harsh. As it is an established fact that forests play an important role in maintain the normal climatic patterns of any concerned area; the decline in forest cover has made the climatic spells highly abnormal in Kashmir and the paradise on earth-Kashmir is losing its great attractiveness on account of brutal cutting of forests.

As a matter of fact , over the last 2-3 decades have seen tremendous destruction of forests in almost every country, apart from for a few exceptions, mainly in the continent of Europe. Now, there are two kinds of countries: one, that have reversed the trend of deforestation, and, second, that be in this world with the sorry reality of declining forest cover. Sadly, we belong to the second category. The adverse  impact of deforestation is visible in urban areas too. Besides the fast increasing number of hotels and residential places around some of the lakes, silt washed from the mountains during the rains is described as the main reason for shrinking of the lakes and also disturbing forest cover .

We should as a nation take steps to stop deforestation.

Gender Imbalance

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News Kashmir Exclusive

Gender imbalance is a disparity between male and females in a population. As stated above, males usually exceed females at birth but subsequently experience different mortality rates due to many possible causes such as differential natural death rates, war casualties, and deliberate gender control. But in many places the less ratio of females is becoming serious issue.

 

In our state Jammu and Kashmir too it is a serious issue. In previous census in 2011,we came to know about the ugly realities with reference to it. As against the national average of 919 females in 0 to 6 years age group,  J&K has 862.

Pertinently, as a matter of great misfortune we welcome our girl child with mourning song usually. The scenes usually witnessed in hospitals when a girl child is born are usually- Women are in a sad mood , men also often bowing down their heads in order to hide their tears or sometimes even giving frustrated looks and reactions , grandmother beating her chest, grandfather cursing his destiny and all this leads to gender disparity.

 

As per 2011 census In J&K, all the 22 districts have witnessed decrease in the number of female children. Pulwama tops the list with the loss of 217 female children per thousand. Budgam follows with the noteworthy fall of 172. While as Pulwama (829) and Budgam (832) have fared as the worst, these two districts were ironically on the top of the best performing districts with 1046 and 1004 respectively in 2001. Statistics were little reassuring in Jammu province where Poonch (-66), Kishtwar (-53), Ramban (-43) and Rajouri (-40) have topped the list in the loss. Reasi (-33), Udhampur (-26) and Doda (-26) have followed. Jammu (-24), Samba (-19) and Kathua have witnessed the least amount of loss.

 

Few time back prominent politician and former minister of the state also spoke on the issue. In a function Mrs Sethi also spoke about the recently launched state sponsored social security schemes meant for women i.e Ladli Beti and Aasra. She said many districts in Jammu and Kashmir exhibited declining sex ratio adding that to reverse the dangerous trend, Government started the Ladli Beti Scheme in select districts of Kathua, Jammu, Samba, Budgam, Pulwama and Anantnag to create positive disposition about the girl child and to address the concerns of girl’s right from birth to adulthood by providing financial security to the girls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

While talking to News Kashmir, Muhammad Tauseef Mir, President Youth Council, an organization working on youth and women issues stated – “ While we celebrated the recent  women day just few days back , we all know that we are confronting serious issue like Gender Imbalance in our state especially the Valley of Kashmnir .Seven out of ten districts in Kashmir have lost more than a hundred females every thousand. Even as Baramulla has lost 98 female children per thousand, followed by Bandipore (-75) and Srinagar (-63), the Valley’s rural districts of Pulwama (-217), Budgam (-172), Ganderbal (-151), Kupwara (-142), Anantnag (-136), Shopian (-133) and Kulgam (-118) have topped the list of dubious distinction. We have the disastrous consequences from entire world to act now or never against this gender imbalance. More than 24 million Chinese men could find themselves without spouses in 2020 as gender imbalance grows.”

Realities suggest that Gender Imbalance is a serious issue in Kashmir.

Kashmiri Women Achievers unplugged

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2016 International Women’s Day Special
By Rameez Makhdoomi
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Women of Kashmir are no less competent and intelligent than women of other parts of the world.
The theme for 2016 is Pledge for Parity, as progress towards gender parity has slowed in many places.
We unplug the three dynamic women of Kashmir, who have shined in diverse fields and take message from them on the eve of this all important observation.
Mehmeet Sayeed
Mehmeet Sayeed, an eminent artist and singer of Kashmir who recently has performed in noted global musical concerts on Kashmiri music and delivered enthralling performances and her message on eve of World women’s day 2016 is –
“Women have always played an important role in carrying forward the cradle of civilization towards the positive and right direction. Every woman needs to understand that there is absolutely no justification for injustice, inequality and discrimination against them. As women are becoming more relevant in the social and economical fabric of this changing world, they need to learn to speak up whenever they see the world being unfair to them.
Most woman face challenges at every step of her life, as a daughter, sister, wife and mother. Those challenges exist to make us stronger not weaker. As a female artist, I also faced numerous challenges to the extent that I stopped working on my passion. It was during that period of darkness and irrelevance that I recognized the need to get back on my feet and continue chasing my passion of singing. I restarted myself and alhamdulillah, I’m living my dream and working on passion. So, don’t let anyone or anything stop you from doing what you are good at.”
Kusum Kaul
Kusum Kaul, a proud Kashmiri is a communication and Media professional of par excellence and has a rich academic background and is a philanthropist as well .
Kusum Kaul is also Director – Transsphere Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Proprietor – Zest Worldwide Communication, Managing Trustee – Utkarsh Healthcare Foundation .She has this message for women on eve of World women’s day 2016 –

“Women have an equal and important role to play in the civilization development. Indira Gandhi has always been my role model. A strong woman of steel, who steered India out of poverty into a modern India. I was always fascinated by Nehru who chartered his daughter’s mental makeup from jail and faraway places through his letters. I have been brought up with my father’s words. “Gandhiji had four sons and Nehru had one daughter, nobody knows Gandhiji’s sons but everyone knows this daughter.” I have been brought up with this state of mind, she was so frail and delicate in looks but had a brain and determination as strong as steel. Women need to be determined and confident enough to achieve anything is my message. We should all also be more tolerant and humane towards one another and never shun the core of humanity.”
Neelam Singh
Neelam Singh, vivacious and talented actress of Kashmir is known for her acting skills and superb caliber and in field since 17 years . Her first serial was “Tavnich Duniya” in the year 1999.She is currently shinning and performing eminent roles in serials of prestigious TV Channels like Sony Tv,Colours, Life OK, Epic etc. Her message on world women day is .She She has this message for women on eve of World women’s day 2016 –

“Kashmiri women through their diverse roles have shown to world the mettle of their intellect. If I look into my life The childhood days went on normally. After death of my father, my mother really took all the great care of me. Till eight class I studied at Guru Nanak School Baramulla and then shifted to Srinagar for further studies. When I reached 9th standard I started to get offers in TV Serials which I initially refused but after great persuasion I gave it a try and was successful in auditions. I wanted to be a doctor and joining the world of acting came by chance and getting acting offers at early age tempted same. Yes, today I love my work and it became my passion now. Women should never suffocate their dreams but give them platform to shine .We can achieve anything if we remain focused on our work and women should develop tough mettle to survive and thrive. ‘”

Improve Nursing system

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Nursing system forms an significant part of any concerned health sector. unquestionably, there is a shortage of nurses in our state, especially in the Valley of Kashmir and this has grave consequences on the provision of health services in our part of the world.

As a matter of fact, shortage of nurses leads to long queues at clinics and hospitals, long waiting periods before patients can be attended to. This leads to the slowing down of procedures at clinics and hospitals and increase adverse events for patients and more stressful work environment.

As the shortage of nurses’ increases, there is increased pressure on our health system to start depending on unqualified and unregulated health workers to meet demands for basic nursing care within clinics and hospitals.
We need to take a series of steps to not only increase the nursing staff in our hospitals but also needs to have a good number of quality nurses. One cannot claim to have respect for human rights or to uphold the sanctity of life if there is no provision for minimum health care for all. And there is no future development without healthy citizens. It is said that caring for the sick is a calling from God of a special dignity and importance, not just another job.
We definitely need to have development of nursing as our top priority.

Aryans 33rd Job Fest witnessed record 100 Companies in a single day

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Over 400 candidates out of more than 2500 got shortlisted by over 100 companies at Aryans 33rd Job Fest

 

Srinagar 26th February

 

Aryans Group of Colleges, Chandigarh today created a new history in the field of placements where more than 100 companies and over 2500 students from different parts of North India came to participate in 33rd Aryans Job Fest at Aryans Campus.

 

Honda was the prominent company which pulled maximum crowd towards itself. Heavy rush was also witnessed in the companies like Cogniter Technologies Pvt Ltd, Platinum Infosys, Volkswagen, Indus Bank, Dinker, Hyundai, SEBIZ, ABEERTECH, The perfection, TMC shipping, Indusland, GM Plaza, Genpact, Rayon, Frisklancer, Gurudev, Shaljon, Bani Mil Producer etc. The maximum package offered was upto 9 lacs per annum.

 

On this occasion Sh. Dharam Pal Gupta, IAS, Director Technical Education, Punjab congratulated team Aryans and said that placement is the backbone of any educational institution without which no campus can satisfy the dreams of its students and hopes of their parents.

 

The fest witnessed 60% of the jobseekers of fresher level, 25% at mid management and 10% at senior level out of which More than 400 candidates including Engineering, Management, Nursing, Pharmacy, Hotel Management, Commerce etc got shortlisted by the companies.

 

Dr. Anshu Kataria, Chairman, Aryans Group of Colleges congratulated the candidates and said that apart from providing good quality education it’s the responsibility of the every institution to build and develop job skills in its students so they can be placed in good companies with good packages.

 

Ms Sheenu Rana, TPO, Aryans Group said thatapart from Chandigarh, students from Chitkara University, LPU, Shri Guru Granth Sahib University, IT Bhadal, Doaba college, GJIMT, ITI Patiala, GZS Bathinda, AS collage khanna, GNIC Hoshiarpur, YSC Barnala, Adesh Group, Indo Global college, Shri Sai college Pathankot, VIT Rohtak, Jind Polytechnic College, Govt Polytechnic Sirsa, West College Rohtak, GRIMT Yamunanagar, IMS Gaziabad, KSVIRA college Bijnor UP participated in this one daylong event.

 

Recruiters and participants were enthusiastic about the response to the fest. Talking to the team Aryans participants said “This event provides fair opportunities to both experienced candidates and freshers and give us a fair chance to know our abilities. We get to see so many competitors at one place.”

 

Quality Private Hospitals Needed in Kashmir

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News Kashmir Exclusive

 

Healthcare as we all know is   the basic sector of every society. Kashmir with its population of more than 6 million has always not had that bright health sector. As it is a known fact that Public Health care has made good strides in our part of the world but yet it has to failed the needs of populace.

Pertinently, the lack of quality Private Hospital too has worsened the problems of Kashmiri people with the result they have to rush outside state  immediately especially to quality Private healthcare facilities in Delhi and Mumbai, but all this comes not only at expensive treatment costs their but also costly travel and staying costs there.

The Indian health system includes public and private hospitals as well as specialized Ayurvedic hospitals. All major cities and medium-sized urban centres have private hospitals that provide an excellent standard of care  but in the Valley of Kashmir we do not have much private hospitals.

 

Ghulam MUHAMMAD, A commoner states -“We do not have much quality Private hospitals in Kashmir. The existing ones have failed to meet the desires expectations. We need to set a quality Private hospital chain so as to lessen the pain of masses.”

The realities urge on entrepreneurs of Kashmir to divert their financial resources to set a quality hospitals in Kashmir and all the stakeholders should come forward.

 

Drying Paradise

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News Kashmir Exclusive

 

February is behaving like June in Kashmir Climatic Pattern Vise and it seems environmental Degradation and global warming aftermath  has started to cast its shadows on picturesque  Kashmir Valley.

According to climatic officials, Kashmir witnessed the hottest day in February in 76 years as the mercury rose to 20.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar on 23rd February more than 10 degrees above normal for this time of the year.

 

Many are concerned that when in February we used to witness  snow but on contrary we  are seeing the  sprouting of plants and blooming of some flower varieties — signs of spring in Kashmir — have started at least one month ahead of the natural process due to the early favorable temperature.

 

As a matter of fact, all  these abnormal changes in Climate patterns has become a source of concern for environmentalists who see it as an effect of climate change. Many expert voices state that part of Climate Change and Global Warming, the two 21st century issues are already posing grave threat to the human civilization in terms of abnormal climate patterns. Kashmir which has already been declared environmentally fragile zone and can be most delicate area to these threats given its predominant reliance on agriculture, natural resources and forestry. The grave scenario with reference of climate has hit us hard at a time when in Kashmir the overall paradigms are already not looking good.

Sheikh Sameer, A researcher states -“A mechanism suggested for tackling climate change and warming has been the idea of using “Carbon Sinks” to soak up carbon dioxide. To aid in this, reforestation, or planting of new forests, have been suggested. This is a popular strategy for the logging industry and nations with large forests interests. While there may be some potential in this solution, it cannot be effective on its own. This is because it legitimizes continued destruction of old-growth and pristine forests which are rich ecosystems and have an established biodiversity base (albeit shrinking now) that naturally maintain the environment (at no cost!). Creating new forest areas would require the creation of entire ecosystems. It is also criticized for being a quick fix that does not tackle the root causes effectively and does not lead to, or promote actual emissions reduction.

In Kashmir we are being impacted by these global factors and also local factors like we destroying our forest wealth and water bodies has worsened the climatic and environmental position of ours. We need to wake up from the slumber and protect our natural resources especially environment than only we can effectively tackle these problems.”

Experts have maintained that large scale havoc caused to water-bodies and wetlands on one hand and to glaciers and forests on the otherside is compounding the environmental problems and giving rise to abnormal climatic patterns in Kashmir. With the threat of another floods looming large in Kashmir valley this season the biggest question, that is talk of town is that how Valley of Kashmir was  literally converted last year into a flood zone with even normal rains that too in month of March which is a no-flood month.  . Pertinently, the answer does not seem simple as the overall environmental scenario is quiet awful as Valley of Kashmir has  lost several precious environmental resources. Over the past few decades, Kashmir  lost a majority of wetlands and lakes. The phenomenon of deforestation has increased. Illegal encroachments have worsened the matters.

 

When one used to witness snowflakes and harsh cold in Chilai Kalan in Kashmir that has now got replaced by bright sunshine and all these are seen adverse impacts of global warming and environmental degradation on the Valley of Kashmir.

Kashmir Environment Facing Onslaught

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Environment is the most essential part of our sustenance. Kashmir valley is known world over for its natural beauty and pristine environment .Lush green gold in form of forests consist of wide variety of plant species like pine, cedar and Chinar, world famous water bodies like Dal and Wullar Lake, globally known wetlands, lofty mountains, eye catching glaciers have been symbols of kashmir’s huge environmental heritage. But since past few decades constantly a death blow is being lent to these great environmental resources of Kashmir on account of human greed and official apathy. Worrying statistics clearly prove this point.

 

. The last 2-3 decades have seen destruction of forests in almost every country, except for a few exceptions, mostly in the continent of Europe. Now, there are two kinds of countries: one, that have successfully reversed the trend of deforestation, and, second, that live with the sorry reality of declining forest cover. Dejectedly, we belong to the second category. The impact of deforestation is visible in urban areas too. Besides the rapidly increasing number of hotels and residential places around some of the lakes, silt washed from the mountains during the rains is described as the main reason for shrinking of the lakes. An effective forest cover would have prevented this.

All this environmental degradation has resulted in causing havoc to our nature and giving rise to abnormal climate patterns.
As a matter of fact, we had a forest cover of 21,000 sq. km. in 1930, which went down to 13,000 sq. km. in 1980. It is estimated that we lost another 15 to 20 per cent during the previous 20 years. The declining forest cover has also meant increase in man-animal conflict. Hearing news about man-wild animal conflict has become a usual  affair in our part of the world.