Srinagar : In a bid to protect the fragile environment Gurez Valley in North Kashmir’s Bandipora District, the Jammu and Kashmir government has imposed a ban on tourists and visitors setting up temporary tents for overnight stays, effective July 15, 2024.
Initially permitted with the condition of maintaining cleanliness, the decision has come in response to widespread littering observed at camping sites.
In a directive by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gurez, the administration has cited concerns over environmental degradation and potential health hazards due to accumulated waste.
Local tents rented out to tourists are exempt but must comply with strict cleanliness standards and pay sanitation fees for waste disposal to the Rural Sanitation Department, reads a statement issued by the sub district administration.
The move aims to preserve the pristine natural surroundings of Gurez and mitigate risks to its ecosystem, it added.
