Onlykashmir.in News Desk
A proposal for a wildlife sanctuary at Doribal-Darbal Payeen in Qalamabad, Handwara, has moved a step forward after Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav wrote to Baramulla MP Er. Rashid, even as the Centre has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to complete the required groundwork.
Awami Ittehad Party Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi welcomed the progress on Monday. He said the Central Zoo Authority has examined the proposal, while the Union Ministry has sought necessary action from the J&K Government, including submission of the required application and a Detailed Project Report.
Calling the development significant, Inam credited it to the sustained efforts of MP Er. Rashid for wildlife conservation and for protecting Handwara’s natural heritage. “We welcome this progress, but we also want the J&K Government to act with urgency,” he said. The Centre, he added, has clearly indicated what is required from the UT administration, and there should be no further bureaucratic delay in preparing the DPR, completing the prescribed application and taking the necessary statutory steps.
The communication places the next move with the Union Territory administration. A detailed project report typically sets out the proposed boundaries, the species and habitats to be protected, the management plan and the financial needs, and a formal application is needed before the proposal can proceed. Those steps must be completed in Srinagar before the matter can advance further at the Centre.
Handwara, in north Kashmir, is known for its forests, meadows and varied wildlife, and local residents and conservation advocates have often called for stronger protection of such landscapes. A sanctuary could help safeguard habitats and wildlife in the area while drawing attention to nature-based tourism and conservation education. How it would be managed, and how local communities would be involved, are questions that the project report is expected to address.
The AIP has framed the matter as one of timely administrative action. By publicly urging the government to act, the party is putting the onus on the UT administration to show progress. Whether the DPR and application are prepared quickly will determine if the proposal moves from correspondence to concrete steps.
For now, the proposal stands at an early but important stage. Conservation groups and residents of Handwara will be watching to see if the J&K Government takes up the Centre’s request promptly.
