The Kashmir Pulse

LEH — In a significant move, the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh on Wednesday established seven Autonomous Hill Development Councils for the Union Territory.

Close on the heels of the creation of five new districts in Ladakh, taking the total to seven, the LG constituted one Hill Development Council for each district.

According to a notification issued by the Administration of Ladakh, a copy of which is in possession of news agency KNO, the Councils are as follows: Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh for the District of Leh; Hill Development Council, Kargil for the district of Kargil; Hill Development Council, Sham for the district of Sham; Hill Development Council, Nubra for the district of Nubra; Hill Development Council, Changthang for the district of Changthang; Hill Development Council, Zanskar for the district of Zanskar; and Hill Development Council, Drass for the district of Drass.

While the term of the Hill Council in Leh ended on October 30, 2025, the Hill Council in Kargil still had more than two years left in its five-year tenure.

Sources in the administration of Ladakh told KNO that the term of the Hill Council Kargil has automatically ended, as the latest notification supersedes all previous notifications regarding the constitution of Hill Development Councils in Ladakh.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997 (Act No. XXXI of 1997), as amended from time to time and in supersession of all previous notifications in this regard, the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh hereby constitutes the following Autonomous Hill Development Councils for the respective districts of the Union Territory of Ladakh for the purposes specified under the said Act…,” reads the notification.

There was no official statement from the Ladakh administration regarding the remaining term of the Hill Council Kargil, whose tenure was scheduled to end in October 2028.

As per the notification, the seven Councils shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as are conferred or assigned to them under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997.

It adds that elections to these Councils shall be held in due course, following the issuance of a notification under Section 8 of the Act, which ensures that Hill Councils are regularly reconstituted through elections - either before the term expires or within six months if dissolved early.

The new Councils have been established at a time when the Apex Body Leh and the Kargil Democratic Alliance are engaged in talks with the Union Government over various political and constitutional issues.

SRINAGAR — The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked Jammu and Kashmir and other Himalayan States and Union Territories to strengthen monitoring and early-warning systems for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and snow avalanches, with a focus on vulnerable areas and timely evacuation.

The directions, according to the news agency KNO, were issued during a review meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, which was attended by senior officials from Jammu and Kashmir and other Himalayan states, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, were also present. Representatives of central disaster management and scientific agencies also attended the meeting.

The meeting reviewed the preparedness of Himalayan regions to deal with GLOFs and avalanches, including the identification of vulnerable glacial lakes, avalanche-prone areas, possible flood flow paths and locations requiring enhanced surveillance.

For Jammu and Kashmir, the directions assume significance as several high-altitude areas of the Union Territory remain vulnerable to avalanches and other mountain-related hazards, particularly during periods of heavy snowfall, rapid warming and extreme weather.

The MHA asked the authorities to ensure that warnings generated by scientific and technical agencies reach district administrations and communities without delay and are followed by appropriate action.

The Union Home Secretary called for a shift from a response-based approach to one centred on advance risk assessment, preventive mitigation and preparedness at the community level.

The states and UTs were also directed to review their existing disaster management and evacuation plans, identify shortcomings and take corrective measures before extreme events occur.

The meeting also took stock of GLOF mitigation projects sanctioned by the Centre in 2024 and called for their expedited implementation.

The MHA stressed the need for regular exchange of risk information between state departments, district administrations and scientific and technical institutions to improve preparedness.

The directions come amid growing concern over climate-linked hazards in the Himalayan region, where changing weather patterns and the rapid melting of glaciers can increase risks associated with unstable glacial lakes and snow avalanches.

The meeting concluded with an emphasis on strengthening early-warning, monitoring and response systems to reduce casualties and damage to infrastructure and property in vulnerable Himalayan areas.

SRINAGAR — Human activity is emerging as a major source of pollution in Dal and Nigeen lakes, with a study recording elevated phosphate concentrations and identifying domestic sewage, detergents, fertilisers and pesticide residues as important contributors to deteriorating water quality.

According to the study findings, Dal Lake recorded a phosphate concentration of 5.10 mg, while concentrations in Nigeen Lake ranged between 4.22 and 4.99 mg.

The elevated phosphate levels were associated with inputs from domestic sewage, household detergents, fertilisers and pesticide residues, the study found.

The study also recorded a higher concentration of particulate matter in Dal Lake compared with Nigeen, indicating a heavier pollution burden in parts of the larger and more heavily used water body.

The findings highlight the impact of untreated or inadequately managed solid and liquid waste entering the lakes. Domestic discharge, detergent-rich wastewater and runoff carrying agricultural chemicals can introduce nutrients and other contaminants into the lake system, affecting water quality and aquatic conditions.

High phosphate levels are particularly significant because excessive nutrient loading can contribute to deterioration in water quality and alter the ecological balance of lakes.

The study recommended regular monitoring of water quality in Dal and Nigeen to track changes in pollution levels and identify sources requiring intervention.

The findings also underline the need to examine the pathways through which sewage, household wastewater, solid waste and chemical residues continue to reach the lakes, rather than relying only on periodic clean-up operations.

For Srinagar, where Dal and Nigeen are important to tourism, livelihoods and the city’s ecological identity, the findings raise concerns over the continuing pressure of human activity on the two water bodies.