Kashmir, the natural treasure....!

Kashmir- Amorous glances from Goigam to Gulmarg

Kashmir is peculiar geographically, barring social,political position of Kashmir. Here let us talk the absolute geographic,topographic peculiarity of Kashmir which has been always beautiful and catchy, no need of artificial beautifying everywhere and always , developement should not be allowed at the cost of the preservence of the nature .

Since it is an established and observed fact that the topography of Kashmir particularly that of Tangmarg tehsil is ideal for various and varied kinds of Medicinal And Aromatic Plants (MAPs) .Some of them of international repute are Taxus, Podophylum, Dioscorea, Zera Kuth, et al.

It is a matter of proud that the Rose of Tangmarg tehsil is the world's best rose as per its medicinal value and aroma is concerned.

As such the cultivation of MAPs should be taken on large scale in the area , this will explore new avenues and areas for research and development of MAPs .

Such projects would ensure the real time analysis, research and development of the high potential MAPs .

The existence of the field station of the Regional Research Laboratory at Yariwan Tangmarg would serve as a ready reference technical aid to this project.

Nallah Ferozpora is already rich, as a treasure of unexplored MAPs ,the establishment of this project will synergise the efforts of the researchers in opening the new vistas in the field.

The farmers of the area are reluctant to grow any kind of such plants because of unawareness and lack of marketing avenues.

In recent years , there has been a tremendous growth of interest in plant based drugs , pharmaceuticals perfumery , cosmetics and aroma compounds used in food flavors and fragrances and natural colors in the world. There is definite trend to adopt pant based products due to the cumulative derogatory effects resulting from the use of antibiotics and synthetics ,and except for a few cultivated crops ,at available plant based material is mainly from the natural sources like forests and waste land.

But due to the ever inversing utilization of land for food crops , devastation of forest and the concurrent indiscrimination , exploitation of these crops , there availability from natural sources has declined. On the other hand , the demand for internal use and for export has been increasing , necessitating the production of these crops on a large scale , there so a need to introduce these crops into the cropping system of the country . Which, besides meeting the demands of the industry , will also help to maintain the standard on quality , potency and chemical composition.

Since these crops are new and uncommon to growers and they often lack knowledge of their scientific cultivation, there is hesitation even among the interested growers to take up their cultivation . Plants have been one of the important sources of medicine even since the dawn of human civilization.

In spite of tremendous developments in the field of allopathic during the 20th century , plants still remain

one of the major sources of drugs in modern as well as traditional systems of medicines throughout the world. Approximately one third of all pharmaceuticals are of plant origin , wherein fungi and bacteria are also included. Over 60 % of all pharmaceuticals are plant based.

In fact, a grim concern has emerged , since the advent of railway-line inside the vale . Many many things have gone wrong due to hurry and perhaps due to planless moves initiated by the govt.

As the work on railway project started,the geographic wealth of valley -the small and segregated mountains and hillocks met the worst treatments, natural disasters like earth quakes, perhaps could not have caused such havoc to these beautiful and balanced mountains.

Paradise on earth is loosing its charm day by day now , due to instincts of Maharajas and ignorance of masses. Afterall, why were these beautiful mountains dashed and bulldozed just for filling the railway-tracks , was not it synergistic to dig the rivers and nallahs , one, to fill the railway tracks, second, to defend the flood prone rivers, channels and streams !

The concerned departments, agencies whosoever be, might be busy in paper work , making tall claims for protecting and preserving the natural resourses,assets,caves,mountains et al;also they might be drawing extra allowances with their schedule-salaries for

the preservation of such marvelous things , but on the ground the situation is pitiable, who cares, the Govt, underestimates all these things for that the Rail should reach Varmul in 2007 even if the chastity of Raishma(Kashmir)is at stake!Is anybody listening

Meanwhile conversion of paddy-land(Aabi Awal) into paradox-land,is turning the paradise into hell at a very speedy rate, the same goes intentionally,unintentionally unnoticed.

World famous tourist place Gulmarg is not resticted to the place Gulmarg only where we have vallies,golf,gondola,horses and hotels, instead, the elegant jurisdiction of Gulmarg starts form Goigam village near Magam town . The importance and tourist scope of Srinagar -Gulmarg highway is not less than that of Proper Gulmarg. This importance and scope can be read,watched and viewed in the books, films and other media of international repute .

Amorous glances from Goigam to Gulmarg include paddy fields from both sides of the highway,streams,streamlets running parallel to the highway,springs alongside the highway at Chichilora,Gokhama,Raram and the horizon-scenic hillock locally called as Lolepur-Wudar.

The marvelous hill side scenery from right side of Drurooo to Tangmarg and amusing down dale from the left side of the same range, downhilling of mountains and hillocks and the glorious downstream flow of irrgation Kohls viz Babul,Tilgam,Chukar,Nihalpur,Yaal and Lolepur adventurously catch the attention of visitors, a natural heavenly scene that can not be developed artificially despite every possible efforts, neither it can be expressed in words here.

Let us preserve our assets, flora, fauna, springs, streams, forests, hills, hillocks; this is only possible if we wake up to awareness right now.

Revenue department must enforce the law meant for prohibition of construction on cultivable and paddy land,in full sprit, otherwise just after five years, glory of Srinagar-Gulmarg Highway will be no more and there will be smoke everywhere instead of pleasant air.

Tourism department must ensure the originality of the area and it must not allow the bulldozing of hillocks that are support to imaginary horizons and that balance the ecology and environment.

Original tracks and shape and size even the gesture of streams ,Kohlsand streamlets must be ensured even if these are shifted away by some metres right or left.

No construction of houses and commercial establishments be allowed even at barren land alongside the highway upto the distance of sight.

Stone-crushers from Nallah-Ferozpora be shifted to far places to ensure environmental comfort and atmosphere.

Construction on proposed Kunzer-Chanpora bridge be started without any further delay torestore the glory of the area,worth sightseeing.

Concluding, Revenue, Tourism, R&B, RD, PHE and Gulmarg Development Authority must wake up, co-ordinate for this grim scenario right now to set the things right, otherwise to repent when sparrows peck the paddy will bear no fruits. Kashmir in future will rule the world as the main treasure in natural medicine, let us preserve even the deserts, not to speak of the fertile land,let us wake up.