Tourism & tunnel projects endangering brown bears in Sonamarg: JKPCB tells NGT

Srinagar, Nov 13: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Board (JKPCB) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that uncontrolled tourism and infrastructure projects, including large tunnel constructions, are severely affecting the habitat of the endangered Himalayan Brown Bear in Sonamarg, Ganderbal District.
The report, prepared by a three-member committee and filed by the JKPCB, was developed in response to a recent news article and findings from a 2021 study by Wildlife SOS. Rising Kashmir has a copy of the report, which highlights the ecological damage caused by tourism practices and ongoing construction activities.
According to the JKPCB, poor waste management is drawing bears closer to human settlements. The report states that over 75% of the brown bear’s diet now comes from human-sourced waste, which has led to bears scavenging near tourist areas and construction sites, raising the risk of dangerous encounters between humans and bears.
Sonamarg’s booming tourism sector generates between 7-10 metric tons of waste daily, with peak season figures reaching up to 20 metric tons. Despite a waste management facility overseen by the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA), JKPCB found that much of the waste remains uncontained, piling up in easily accessible areas.
The report also raises concerns about ongoing tunnel and road construction projects, which, while improving connectivity, are harming the local ecosystem. Construction debris is often dumped irresponsibly, shrinking the roaming areas needed by wildlife, particularly brown bears that require extensive habitats.
“These activities are putting extreme pressure on the brown bear’s limited habitat and threatening its survival in the region,” JKPCB stated.
To address these challenges, JKPCB has recommended measures such as installing bear-proof garbage bins around tourist hotspots and fencing off waste management sites to prevent bears from accessing the waste. It also called for an advanced waste management system, proposing automated waste segregation and composting to cut down on landfill use. Additionally, JKPCB suggested that the SDA implement waste measurement systems, like a weighbridge, to enhance accountability.
The report also advises revising construction guidelines to preserve wildlife corridors and habitats wherever possible.
The NGT has stated it will review JKPCB’s recommendations, stressing the importance of immediate action to safeguard the Himalayan Brown Bear and protect Sonamarg’s environment amid increasing human activity.