Peace time environmental degradations of militarization are multidimensional in nature and must not be taken for granted in ecologically sensitive places like Kashmir
Mir Jamsheed Jameel
The ecologically destructive nature of modern world is being exposed and challenged due to the increasing scientific and broader social recognition of environmental problems.
Discourses, theories, scientific practices and methods, increasing social constructianism of human issues are cornerstone of modern political and economic order. Recent decades saw increase in environmental movements, conservation groups, organizations and development of new groups which were part of new green movement and critical to government. Many scholars, international organizations, think-tanks and institutes argued that the various challenges and threats to environmental sustainability arise from conflicts, military activites and interests, multinational corporations and ineffective/ strong state institutions and governance structures and effects can be worse when these institutes have collaboration with the governments.
Military as an institution is being regarded as the single largest threat and pollutant to environment because its activities have multi dimensional, long term consequences for generations to come. The recent advanced research has found that militarization, military practices and toxins can not only damage environment but also reproductive health of large section of population. In Memphis, women now report cancer, kidney diseases, birth and other health defects after a military depot dumped chemicals in secrecy without informing people. Thus, military practices (artillery exercises) represent yet another source of military related peace-time environmental degradation. Land that is used for military training is prone to severe degradation, causing toxic contamination of soil and ground water. Fragile environments can take hundreds of years to recover from military assault as in Australia were weapon testing areas cannot be used for alternate purposes.
In Kashmir, people too have been systematically denied access to information regarding possible and future repercussions of military practices on environment and health of the society. In this way it is least possible for the people to protect their life, livelihoods and socio-economic assets. Thus under a well planned strategy, military secrets are been protected at the cost of the life of the people and their coming generations.
Kashmir is among the 34 Bio-diversity hotspots in world and among the most biologically threatened places on the planet and was also listed as most heavily military zone in world with near a million troops dotting the eco-sensitive Himalayan region. It is also most land scare states in India and has been categorized by environmental sustainability index for Indian states as least sustainable place.
Militarization and military activities have degraded environment, constrained livelihood access, accelerated occupation of huge chunks of valuable land and resources, dumping of ammunitions, planting of landmines, hampering sustainable economic, environmental and eco-tourism policing of Kashmir which many believe is directly or indirectly contributing to food deficiency, environmental decline and disaster vulnerability of Kashmir, the argument also put forth by Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil society (JKCCS) in their recent report Occupational Hazard. Despite being ecologically sensitive, Kashmir has 12- the highest number of artillery practice grounds in india, while in other big states drills are organized only at 3 to 4 places per state.
Before frantically transfer military practices from one meadow to another, we must review the devastating results these practices have brought in other parts of Kashmir. For example, In the Tosa Maidan area, land was devastated in many ways during practice like air to ground bombing from one valley to another which resulted in human loss, cattle and wildlife dispossession and degradation of forests, water sources, orchards and agriculture lands due to pouring of military waste downrange.
It was also reported that due to violent bangs, walls of houses and building formed cracks and also these sounds imparted the hearing capacity and ability of large section of population especially children and infants. During summers, when people needed the forests most to collect grass, herbs and firewood to store the same for coming bitter winter, they were issued notices and warned to remain indoors; thus people were denied sustainable and fair access of the meadow.
Since the local people and civil society groups had strongly opposed the further extension of meadow land to Indian army from 2014, government according to some reports is mulling to transfer the artillery drills to Tragbal area of bandipora district. If it is allowed it will be another socio-environmental misadventure in making which would have devastating impacts on the ecology of Kashmir.
These are some of the issues to keep in consideration before giving green signal to setup artillery practice infrastructure there.
Tragbal (9600 feet) is biggest army base enroute to heavily militarized Gurez area, the actual firing range might be around Razdan Pass (11700 ft).
The place is nestled among the beautiful high altitude landscape of Kashmir rich in flora, fauna, forests and other resources. The pass is only physical connection between Gurez and Kashmir valley and using this place for artillery drills will have multi dimensional impacts on the people and on the area. Thousands of people live downrange and depend on this area for livelihood security and cattle grazing especially villages of Bunkoot, korakbal, mantrigam, pazalpora, khayar, lawaypora, chandaji, petkoot, onagam, quil etc. This historically vital place and has yet not been explored for its historical antiquities and archaeological assets because it (Tragbal) was one of the important halting and base camps for travelers during pre-1947 when Kashmir especially Bandipora had rich cultural, trade and economic ties with Gilgit and Central Asian cities. Using the area for artillery practice will also be the violation of Rim corridor plan because the area falls under that corridor proposed by tourism experts to integrate and connect Tulail, gurez, Razdan pass, Tragbal, Bandipora with Drass and Kargil tourism entities, so that these places could be brought in tourism discourse. The mountainous triangle of Razdan-Bagtore-mou is thronged by wild animals during different parts of the year. Conducting artillery drills here will further strangulate the natural abode of wildlife because the military fencing in forests and around water sources of gurez has already constrained wildlife habitats. Villages, Forests, water bodies like Chandaji, Zedkhusi, which provides round year water to large section of people are already been degraded by HCC in collaboration with administration because former is openly violating Environmental impact Accessments and Supreme Court guidelines while constructing the hydro power project. The chandaji-madhumati streams flowing at foothills of Tragbal range are important tributaries and fall under the catchment area of Wular lake, hence the soil erosion which will be factored by artillery drills will increase disaster vulnerability and siltation level in Wular lake. The Ramsar management plan which categorized Wular lake as lake of international importance and ecological security has already proposed and suggested strengthening of soil conservation, water, forest and environmental protection of these areas. The area is already becoming popular among tourists and development of tourism infrastructure will make this place more affordable and maintaining this place on pattern of border tourism can be much better.
Let it should be concluded and reckoned that high altitude places likes meadows, pastures and valleys which are important ecological and livelihood entities must not be used for these destructive exercises. The artillery practices are supposed to be conducted in barren and wastelands where it can have minimum effect on environment and life of the people.
Keeping in view the advancement of highly advanced military technology which uncovers danger and enemies in seconds, there is no justification of conducting decades old traditional and destructive drills in this scientific era. It is high time for policymakers, experts and scientists to inform the people on these vital issues and put pressure on state institutions to demilitarize eco-sensitive places and halt the artillery drills in other areas of Kashmir so that environmental decline of Kashmir is minimized, managed and mitigated on time.
author is a researcher from bandipora. he is chairman of kashmir environmental movement and is associated with various international organizations, think tank institutes and ngos. he can be mailed at mirjamsheedjameel@gmail.com
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