Snow Drought! |
When Chief Minister Omar Abdullah calls for artificial snow-making systems in famous ski-resort Gulmarg, it clearly points towards how deep the tentacles of climate change have hit Jammu and Kashmir.
Since childhood Gulmarg has been a favourite haunt for Omar, who is a nature lover and an avid skier. Skiing down alpine slopes of Afarwat Peak, covered with thick powder snow, in the last 50 years, Omar has been witness to the unmatched natural glory of the ski-resort especially in winters. Gulmarg and snowfall used to be synonymous in winters. During a recent tourism related function in the ski-resort, Omar minced no words to blame climate change for stark reduction in snowfall over recent years in J&K including Gulmarg.
Omar pointed out that Gulmarg, surrounded by mountains, used to receive heavy snowfall by mid-December, but recent winters “have seen little to none”, posing a serious challenge to winter tourism. “If we do not adapt, skiing in Gulmarg risks becoming a memory rather than a living tradition,” Omar cautioned. He emphasised the need for technological interventions and advocated adoption of artificial snow-making systems, as practiced in several European ski destinations. The CM also suggested storing rainwater and deploying snow machines when temperatures fall below zero, at least on select slopes, particularly those serviced by newly installed drag lifts.
Slopes of Gulmarg attract skiers from around the globe and it is alarming that we have reached a stage of adopting artificial snow-making systems. This shows the extent of damage climate change has done to the ecosystem.
Omar recalling Gulmarg legacy said skiing was practised in the resort long before the sport gained popularity elsewhere in........