Environmental concerns mount as militarized Amarnath Yatra begins in IIOJK
#HinduYatraThreatToIIOJKEnvironment
Srinagar: The Indian government’s decision to proceed with the massive Amarnath Yatra amidst growing environmental concerns has ignited widespread criticism and fears of irreparable harm to the fragile ecosystem of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, environmental critics and experts have voiced alarm over the significant threats posed by the large-scale pilgrimage to IIOJK’s environment, already strained by climate change impacts.
They argue that the Modi regime is turning a blind eye to the environmental risks associated with the massive influx of Hindu pilgrims to the Amarnath Cave in south Kashmir. They warn that the current form of the pilgrimage could lead to long-term ecological damage in the Himalayan region.
Furthermore, critics and experts have lambasted the Indian government for militarizing the Amarnath Yatra, deploying extensive forces’ personnel that not only intensify environmental pressures but also exacerbate tensions among the local Kashmiri population.
They expressed concerns that the Yatra not only endangers Kashmir’s fragile environment but also serves as a tool of cultural and political subjugation of the Kashmiris by India.
Environmental experts caution that the concentration of hundreds of thousands of Yatris in Kashmir significantly impacts the delicate Himalayan ecology, potentially accelerating issues such as glacier melting and heightened flood risks.
Advocating for urgent international intervention, they urge India to impose strict limits on the duration and scale of the Yatra to protect Kashmir’s unique and vulnerable environment. They stress that the Amarnath Yatra, if unchecked, could accelerate environmental degradation in Kashmir, affecting local communities and regional biodiversity, as well as critical water resources.
