Bandipora, Jan 28: A severe environmental crisis is unfolding around Wullar Lake in Kashmir's Bandipora district, where rampant sand trafficking and deforestation are taking a devastating toll on the area's natural beauty and biodiversity.

"The destruction of thousands of trees has been followed by intense sand trafficking, severely perturbing the land," said Abdul Rashid, a local resident. "We request the government to take immediate steps to curb sand trafficking so that this land can be conserved."
Another local, who wished to remain anonymous, shared their pain: "I used to graze my sheep and cows here, it was a quite green belt, but now tractors have badly diminished it. Though police officials have done great work, the tractor owners don't seem to be dettere.
The situation has also caught the attention of the Head of the Civil Engineering Department at a nearby polytechnic college, who expressed frustration over the impact of illegal mining on local infrastructure. "We've struggled to maintain our college road, but the constant traffic due to mining has undone our efforts. We urge authorities to take strict action against those responsible."
Locals and experts alike are calling for urgent government intervention to protect Wullar Lake's ecosystem and preserve the area's natural heritage