Srinagar, June 26: Marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions in the Battle of Karbala, Youm-e-Ashura is being observed across Kashmir today with deep religious reverence. Thousands of mourners are expected to join the main procession from Bota Kadal to Imam Bara Zadibal in Srinagar.

The procession will bring together devotees from different parts of Kashmir at Zadibal, where they will pay tribute through mourning rituals, religious recitations, Majalis and prayers.

An official said the administration has put in place elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. Healthcare facilities, drinking water, sanitation, traffic regulation and emergency response services have been arranged along the procession route.

“A multi-layer security grid has been established with deployment of police, CRPF and other security personnel, while drone surveillance and CCTV monitoring are being used to maintain round-the-clock vigilance,” a senior police officer said.

The officer said the observance is being monitored closely at the highest level to ensure that Youm-e-Ashura passes off peacefully and without any untoward incident.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is also scheduled to visit Zadibal to witness the solemn occasion and take stock of the arrangements.

In view of the expected large gathering, Srinagar Police has issued a comprehensive public advisory asking mourners and the general public to observe Muharram in a peaceful, dignified and disciplined manner.

According to the advisory, participants have been asked to maintain communal harmony, follow all directions issued by the administration and police authorities, cooperate with traffic police and volunteers for smooth movement, ensure that the procession remains confined to the permitted route and purpose, respect the religious sentiments and beliefs of all communities, and protect public and government property while maintaining cleanliness.

Police have also advised the public not to indulge in any unlawful activity or create any law and order situation, not to raise provocative slogans or make inflammatory speeches, not to obstruct traffic or pedestrian movement, and not to damage or misuse public property.

The advisory further states that people should not display provocative banners, posters, placards or flags, should not disrespect the National Flag or glorify any country, organisation or group, and should not carry or display flags or symbols of any country, organisation or group. It also cautions against engaging in any activity detrimental to the integrity, sovereignty and unity of the nation.

Srinagar Police appealed to all mourners and citizens to extend full cooperation, stating that public participation and responsible conduct would ensure a peaceful and dignified observance of Youm-e-Ashura.

Srinagar, June 25: On Thursday afternoon, dozens of citizens, including former bureaucrats, environmental experts, activists, students and concerned residents, gathered at the conference hall of the Institution of Engineers, Srinagar, for a seminar on the Protection of Natural Evironment in Jammu and Kashmir, organised by the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), Jammu & Kashmir. 

The speakers highlighted growing environmental concerns in the region, stressing the urgent need for stronger conservation measures and greater public awareness to address the escalating ecological challenges.

From retreating glaciers and shrinking forest cover to disappearing wetlands, illegal riverbed mining and unregulated urban expansion, the seminar brought into focus a wide range of environmental issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir.

In his introductory remarks, retired IAS officer Khurshid Ahmed Ganai and GCC chairman said environmental protection could not be left solely to the government or institutions, underlining the need for collective public responsibility. He urged the media to amplify the message of environmental conservation so that it reaches people at the grassroots.

“I request the media to carry the messages of the speakers to the people,” Ganai said, warning that the rapid retreat of glaciers could soon trigger a serious water crisis if corrective measures were not taken.

Ganai also paid tributes to Mohammad Shafi Pandit, founder of the GCC, acknowledging his contribution to environmental awareness and public discourse in the region.

Former IAS officer and former Director General of CAPART, MK Ranjitsinh, stressed the importance of habitat conservation for protecting wildlife.

“You can have the habitat without wild animals, but you can’t have wild animals without habitat,” he said, recalling that nine villages were relocated from the Dachigam area during the Maharaja’s rule to create a secure habitat for the Hangul. “It was because of that effort that the Hangul ( Kashmir stag) survives today,” he added.

During the technical session, Lt Gen R.S. Reen said Kashmir was witnessing unprecedented environmental changes that threatened its ecological future.

“Kashmir is a paradise, but the question is whether it will continue to remain one,” he said.

Reen pointed to melting glaciers, vanishing springs and the declining water level of the Jhelum as signs of mounting ecological stress. “We have never seen the Jhelum recede to such an extent that it can be crossed at Zero Bridge,” he said.

He also raised concern over encroachments on flood channels and wetlands, warning that Kashmir had narrowly escaped a flood situation similar to the devastating 2014 floods last year.

“Are we still awake? Are we doing something about it?” he asked, adding that while global warming was a significant factor, human activities had accelerated environmental degradation.

“If glaciers continue to melt at the current pace, we will face serious water shortages and irrigation problems,” Reen said, adding that the loss of wetlands due to unplanned construction was also threatening biodiversity.

Environmental activist Raja Muzaffar highlighted the ecological damage caused by riverbed mining, particularly in the Doodhganga and other rivers and water bodies  across the Valley. He said illegal mining continued despite repeated interventions by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and penalties imposed on the administration.

Muzaffar said an NGT-appointed panel had visited the Sukhnag area following his intervention to assess environmental damage caused by mining.

Former Director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Asad Rahmani said the Hangul population, once estimated at around 6,000, had witnessed a sharp decline over the decades. He emphasised the need for sustained scientific intervention, habitat protection and community participation to revive endangered species and maintain the region’s ecological balance.

Prominent among others who spoke on the occcasion included Latief-u-Zaman Deva IAS (Retd) and vice chairman of GCC, Manzoor Ahmad Tak, IFS (Retd), Dr Majid Farooq, Scientist, Directorate of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing, J &K and others.