Sonamarg: Despite a standing ban imposed by the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court in 2017 on all unauthorized constructions in the ecologically sensitive and globally renowned tourist destination of Sonamarg, illegal building activity continues unabated, casting a shadow over official enforcement mechanisms and raising serious concerns about environmental degradation in the area.
The High Court directive, introduced with the express intent to preserve the fragile alpine ecology and untouched natural beauty of Sonamarg, had mandated a complete halt on any form of unapproved construction. In response, the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) established two security checkpoints to regulate and prevent the transport of construction materials into the region. A monitoring team was also deployed to oversee compliance with the court’s ruling.
Yet, in stark defiance of these safeguards, reports and eyewitness accounts indicate that unauthorized structures continue to emerge within the tourist zone. Yesterday, the SDA was compelled to demolish the second storey of an under-construction building during an enforcement drive, a move seen by many as reactive and symbolic rather than systemic.
Local residents, expressing mounting frustration, allege that Sonamarg’s once-pristine meadows are slowly giving way to unchecked urbanization. “The meadows are disappearing. Concrete structures are springing up, one after another, while the authorities look the other way,” a concerned resident told the news agency Kashmir News Trust. Locals have further questioned how construction material continues to enter the region despite the existence of official barriers and surveillance teams.
Public sentiment remains skeptical about the sincerity and sustainability of the SDA’s enforcement drives, with many claiming these actions are episodic and lack long-term impact. “There’s a flurry of demolitions when there’s scrutiny, but as soon as attention fades, the illegal activity resumes,” said a member of a local environmental group.
Critics have gone as far as to accuse the Sonamarg Development Authority of breaching the very court orders it is meant to uphold. The growing disconnect between policy and enforcement, they say, threatens not only Sonamarg’s ecological integrity but also the credibility of the administrative machinery.
Environmentalists and civil society groups have now called for a comprehensive review of enforcement protocols, greater transparency, and stronger accountability measures to ensure Sonamarg’s preservation for future generations. They stress that without a consistent and sincere commitment to ecological protection, one of Kashmir’s most treasured landscapes may soon be lost to the creeping advance of unchecked development.
[KNT]
