Srinagar, Feb 19: The government on Thursday informed the House that around 1.35 lakh willow trees have been felled in and around Wular Lake under a phased restoration plan, while over 19 lakh plants have been raised in the catchment area to mitigate the ecological impact.

In response to MLA Irshad Rasool Kar’s query, the Minister-in-Charge said that 1.91 lakh willow trees were identified for removal in the first phase under the Comprehensive Management Action Plan for Wular Lake. Of these, nearly 1.35 lakh trees have already been removed.

The government said, the exercise is not deforestation, but a habitat management measure aimed at restoring the lake’s natural wetland character.

It also said the plan does not provide for blanket removal and instead prescribes selective and need-based cutting aligned with ecological goals.

The Minister further informed the House that, total estimated number of willow trees in and around the lake stands between 19 and 21 lakh. “The removal, the government said, is being carried out in a phased and strategic manner based on management requirements.”

The government also disclosed that the tree removal has generated approximately Rs 31.95 crore in revenue so far. The entire amount has been deposited under government receipts in accordance with financial rules.

“On compensatory measures, the government said, more than 19 lakh plants have been raised in the Wular catchment since the establishment of the Wular Conservation and Management Authority in 2012.”

They said, in the Bandipora catchment alone, over 2,900 hectares have been treated through afforestation, plantation and soil conservation works. These measures, they said, aim to stabilise slopes, control erosion and reduce sediment flow into the lake as part of the larger restoration effort. —(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 19: The Government on Thursday informed the legislative assembly that around 70,000 persons, mostly youth, are involved in substance use in Kashmir, out of which nearly 50,000 are heroin users, largely through the intravenous route.

Replying to a question tabled by MLA Javid Riyaz, the Health & Medical Education Department said Jammu & Kashmir, like many other regions of the country, is confronted with the menace of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, posing serious social and public health concerns.

The government said, it has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the issue, including awareness campaigns, preventive interventions, strengthening enforcement mechanisms and expansion of treatment and rehabilitation facilities.

It said that, as per a joint survey conducted in 2022 by the Health Department and Social Welfare Department in 10 districts of Kashmir, around 70,000 persons were found to be involved in substance use.

The reply further said, a network of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres has been established across the Union Territory, including facilities in District Hospitals, Government Medical Colleges, and police-run centres. So far, around 69,000 patients have been provided treatment and rehabilitation services in various addiction treatment facilities across J&K.

The government also informed the house that, free services, including OPD/IPD care, emergency services and Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST), are available at Medical Colleges and District Hospitals through Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs).

“At present, 1,864 clients are registered, with 358 active beneficiaries receiving treatment.”

They added that Mental Health and Addiction Medicine Clinics have been operationalised to provide specialised care, while awareness and IEC campaigns are being conducted under NHM, NMHP, NAPDDR and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in schools, colleges, and community settings.

“The Drug Control Organization is enforcing the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940, and has conducted 518 awareness programmes during 2025–26 (till December). Helpline 104 has also been publicised for immediate assistance and counselling,” the government said.

The government further added that it is committed to strengthening de-addiction counselling and rehabilitation infrastructure, particularly in rural and vulnerable areas. IMHANS Kashmir and Government Medical Colleges are expanding services, while inpatient facilities are being established to provide specialised care.

“Addiction Treatment Facilities at GMC Anantnag, Handwara and Srinagar are fully functional, offering counselling, OST programmes, outreach and referral mechanisms. GMC Baramulla has been sanctioned Rs 5 crore for a dedicated de-addiction building, while Drug Treatment Centres are operational to provide structured treatment and follow-up care.”

The government said, institutional mechanisms for prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation are in place and efforts are being strengthened in a systematic manner to address drug abuse among youth in J&K.—(KNO)

Srinagar, Feb 18: In a significant move to modernise safety protocols within the tourism sector, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and the Jammu & Kashmir Police jointly inaugurated a two-week training programme on ‘Tech-Infused Tourism Policing’ in Srinagar.

The initiative aims to enhance the professional capacity of police personnel in managing tourist safety and crisis situations through advanced technological tools.

Welcoming the participants, Mahesh A Tripathi, Director, RRU J&K Campus, outlined the vision of the initiative and emphasized that the curriculum has been designed to address emerging security challenges in the tourism sector through technological integration.

He highlighted that RRU, an Institution of National Importance, provides specialised security training to personnel from across India and several countries.

The initiative aims to equip police personnel with the necessary skills to manage the unique security challenges of high-footfall areas.

The programme was inaugurated by Shah Umer, Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, who emphasised that tourism policing has become a critical component of internal security in the modern era.

During his inaugural address, Umer noted that the evolving security dynamics and the steady increase in tourist inflows necessitate a proactive shift in law enforcement strategies.

He asserted that police personnel must continuously upskill and adopt modern technologies to ensure better preparedness for future challenges.

The programme reflects the commitment of the Jammu and Kashmir Police to evolve operational practices in alignment with international standards of tourist safety.

The introductory session was led by Bilquees Dar, who provided a comprehensive overview of the curriculum.

The training is designed to cover essential themes, including tech-enabled policing tools, crisis response mechanisms, and the vital importance of inter-agency coordination.

Bilquees highlighted that these elements are particularly crucial for maintaining stability in sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir, where tourism serves as a backbone for the local economy.

The training will involve various modules focusing on the intersection of technology and field operations, ensuring that officers are not only reactive but also preventive in their approach to security.

As the region continues to see record-breaking tourist numbers, this initiative marks a pivotal step in ensuring that the safety of visitors remains a top priority for the administration.

During the keynote session, Bhawani Sinh Rathore, Director of the School of Internal Security and SMART Policing (SISSP) at Rashtriya Raksha University, provided a strategic outlook on the economic impact of the industry.

He noted that tourism has emerged as one of the fastest-growing global industries and a vital pillar of national revenue.

Highlighting Indiaís rising global stature, Rathore stated that India currently ranks among the top 15 tourism destinations worldwide, a position that necessitates the implementation of robust, world-class tourist safety mechanisms to sustain growth and international trust.

Further deliberations featured insights from Syed Sleet Shah, DySP Hqrs Srinagar, who highlighted critical operational issues such as the safety of female tourists, service regulation, and the prevention of overcharging.

The sessions also focused on “image management” for the police force, ensuring that security personnel act as facilitators for a positive tourist experience while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

This initiative reflects the ongoing commitment of Rashtriya Raksha University to provide specialised training that aligns with the evolving security needs of Indiaís most sensitive regions.

During the training programme’s inauguration, key recommendations were proposed to strengthen the tourism sector, including strengthening coordination with trade associations, regulating transport services, and deploying GPS-enabled systems; additionally, the proposals emphasised forming tourist crisis intervention teams, increasing the visibility of tourist police offices, and tasking Rashtriya Raksha University with developing a dedicated tourist assistance mobile application.

The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks from Mohammad Akmal Shah, Assistant Director of the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) J&K Campus, who expressed his gratitude to the dignitaries, organisers, participants, and supporting agencies for their contributions to the program’s successful commencement.

This programme represents a significant step in RRUís mission to provide high-level security education that translates into actionable public safety improvements.

By fostering collaboration between academic experts and field practitioners, the university continues to lead the way in national security and tourism stability.