Gulmarg pony operators seek curb on tourist vehicles in Green Zone
Baramulla, Jan 22: Ponywallas operating in the tourist resort of Gulmarg have raised serious objections to what they allege is the unrestricted entry of tourist vehicles into the Green Zone up to the Bowl area, warning that the practice is harming both their livelihoods and the fragile ecosystem of the region.
The aggrieved ponywallas said allowing vehicles beyond designated parking areas has disrupted traditional tourism-related activities and poses a threat to Gulmarg’s environmental balance. They claimed that thousands of families dependent on pony services, sledging and allied work are being adversely affected.
Vice President of the Apni Party, Ghulam Hassan Mir, also expressed concern over the issue, saying there was growing resentment over the administration’s decision to permit tourist vehicles direct access to the Gondola base and other key locations. He said the move threatened the livelihood of nearly 5,000 families dependent on traditional tourism activities in the area.
President of the Ponywalla Association Gulmarg, Tariq Ahmad, said the decision has serious implications for both employment and environmental conservation. “From ponywallas to sledge operators and labourers, around 5,000 people are associated with this trade. Allowing vehicles into the Green Zone effectively deprives thousands of people of their livelihoods and puts immense pressure on the fragile environment,” he said.
Ahmad said Gulmarg has two designated parking facilities—Stand 1 and Stand 2—at the main market. “Until two years ago, all vehicles were required to park at these locations. Over the past two years, however, vehicles have been allowed to move beyond these points without proper regulation, affecting the charm and ecology of this world-class tourist destination,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with Ladakh, Ahmad said protected zones elsewhere strictly prohibit vehicular movement. “In Ladakh, tourist vehicles are not allowed beyond a certain point. Local labourers and registered operators ferry tourists further, which ensures livelihood for locals while protecting the environment,” he said.
He added that while tourism had witnessed a slump for several years, the recent increase in tourist arrivals has coincided with new challenges for local service providers.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer, Gulmarg, Tariq Ahmad Naik, rejected the allegations, stating that vehicles are not being allowed into the Green Zone. “Tourists are only permitted to use their vehicles to reach the hotels they have booked. Separate entry and exit routes have been created to ensure smooth traffic movement. The allegations are baseless, and a proper mechanism is already in place,” he said.
