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08-29-2025     3 رجب 1440

Impact of Railways on Environment

Railways generate large noise and it can thus cause noise pollution and this can affect hearing sense of people especially in residential areas along the railway tracks

May 15, 2024 | Nahida Jan

Railway Projects in J&K is a Novel concept as till the date there is scarcity of railway tracks in J&K. J&K being a hilly area especially Kashmir valley is a big challenge for these projects. The government is planning to connect Baramulla- Uri,Sopore-Kupwara,Awantipora-Shopian,Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgamwith a railway network but we are aware how much farmland we would have to sacrifice for it. Although being a boon to economy railways have an adverse effect on environment. J&K being an agriculture and horticulture based state may have vast negative effect of these railway projects. To have a deep understanding of these adverse effects, they need to be discussed deeply and have a sound understanding so that appropriate measures can be taken to minimize the effects if not totally avoided. The effects are discussed as under

Impact on Habitat

Railway projects have a serious impact on habitat as their construction can disrupt natural habitat and destroy ecosystems, especially in ecologically sensitive areas like forests and wetlands. This alters the habitat of wild animals and birds and this can lead to the loss of biodiversity & disrupt wildlife migration patterns, affecting the overall health of ecosystem in J&K.

 

Land Shortage due to land occupation by railway tracks and railway stations
Since these railway projects need acquisition of vast land for tracks and railway stations which results in loss of agricultural and horticultural land which can lead to shortage of food and cash crops and can affect livelihoods of residents of J&K. This will also result in displacement of communities and can destroy property of many people which can lead to havoc in their lives and this can lead to social conflicts and people will have to live a miserable life if these people are not provided with adequate compensation and resettlement. This land acquisition can damage a vast land of orchards and can affect the production of fruits especially apples as people have cultivated new varieties of apples which have been prepared by investing huge amount
And thus there will be economic lapse and local people will be bankrupted since they have taken huge loans to prepare these orchards. Since it is necessary to consider these things soth at these people are compensated enough so that they may not suffer.

Water Pollution

Since railway activities produce a lot of waste and this waste is very much hazardous and it affects the quality of water and can make it polluted. Railway activities has locomotive–maintenance and refueling produce oil, grease and chemicals into nearby water bodies and it degrades water quality and can affect the health of living organisms. It mainly affects aquatic life and thus it destroys ecological balances, biodiversity and degrades health conditions.

Noise and Visual Pollution

Railways generate large noise and it can thus cause noise pollution and this can affect hearing sense of people especially in residential areas along the railway tracks. Railway infrastructure such as tracks stations and overhead wires can alter the visual landscape and degrade the aesthetic value of the surroundings.

Growing Flood Threats

J&K is prone to landslides, particularly in hilly terrains. Construction activities associated with railway projects, such as excavation and deforestation, can destabilize slopes and increase the likelihood of landslides, which can block waterways and exacerbate flooding downstream. Railway infrastructure and associated development may encroach upon floodplains, which are essential for absorbing excess water during floods. Encroachment reduces the capacity of these floodplains to mitigate flood risks, leaving nearby communities more vulnerable to inundation. J&K is experiencing the effects of climate change, including altered precipitation patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. Railway projects must account for these changing conditions, as they can increase the likelihood and severity of floods in the region. Railway infrastructure, such as bridges, embankments, and tunnels, can be vulnerable to damage during floods. If these structures fail, they can worsen flood impacts by obstructing water flow and causing additional destruction to surrounding areas.

Conclusion

The need of the hour is to understand these problems and to take necessary measures to tackle them. It is essential for railway authorities and policy makers to incorporate environmental considerations into the planning, design and implementation of railway projects in J&K. This can be done by including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and implementing mitigation measures, more importantly engaging with local communities and stakeholders to address the concerns of these people and ensure sustainable development. Considering these concerns, the government should prioritised the welfare of affected families by offering compensation in the form of employment opportunities. Before proceeding further, the government should thoroughly assess the situation and mitigate effects on the local economy.

 

 


Email:-------------------------waninadu61@gmail.com

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Impact of Railways on Environment

Railways generate large noise and it can thus cause noise pollution and this can affect hearing sense of people especially in residential areas along the railway tracks

May 15, 2024 | Nahida Jan

Railway Projects in J&K is a Novel concept as till the date there is scarcity of railway tracks in J&K. J&K being a hilly area especially Kashmir valley is a big challenge for these projects. The government is planning to connect Baramulla- Uri,Sopore-Kupwara,Awantipora-Shopian,Anantnag-Bijbehara-Pahalgamwith a railway network but we are aware how much farmland we would have to sacrifice for it. Although being a boon to economy railways have an adverse effect on environment. J&K being an agriculture and horticulture based state may have vast negative effect of these railway projects. To have a deep understanding of these adverse effects, they need to be discussed deeply and have a sound understanding so that appropriate measures can be taken to minimize the effects if not totally avoided. The effects are discussed as under

Impact on Habitat

Railway projects have a serious impact on habitat as their construction can disrupt natural habitat and destroy ecosystems, especially in ecologically sensitive areas like forests and wetlands. This alters the habitat of wild animals and birds and this can lead to the loss of biodiversity & disrupt wildlife migration patterns, affecting the overall health of ecosystem in J&K.

 

Land Shortage due to land occupation by railway tracks and railway stations
Since these railway projects need acquisition of vast land for tracks and railway stations which results in loss of agricultural and horticultural land which can lead to shortage of food and cash crops and can affect livelihoods of residents of J&K. This will also result in displacement of communities and can destroy property of many people which can lead to havoc in their lives and this can lead to social conflicts and people will have to live a miserable life if these people are not provided with adequate compensation and resettlement. This land acquisition can damage a vast land of orchards and can affect the production of fruits especially apples as people have cultivated new varieties of apples which have been prepared by investing huge amount
And thus there will be economic lapse and local people will be bankrupted since they have taken huge loans to prepare these orchards. Since it is necessary to consider these things soth at these people are compensated enough so that they may not suffer.

Water Pollution

Since railway activities produce a lot of waste and this waste is very much hazardous and it affects the quality of water and can make it polluted. Railway activities has locomotive–maintenance and refueling produce oil, grease and chemicals into nearby water bodies and it degrades water quality and can affect the health of living organisms. It mainly affects aquatic life and thus it destroys ecological balances, biodiversity and degrades health conditions.

Noise and Visual Pollution

Railways generate large noise and it can thus cause noise pollution and this can affect hearing sense of people especially in residential areas along the railway tracks. Railway infrastructure such as tracks stations and overhead wires can alter the visual landscape and degrade the aesthetic value of the surroundings.

Growing Flood Threats

J&K is prone to landslides, particularly in hilly terrains. Construction activities associated with railway projects, such as excavation and deforestation, can destabilize slopes and increase the likelihood of landslides, which can block waterways and exacerbate flooding downstream. Railway infrastructure and associated development may encroach upon floodplains, which are essential for absorbing excess water during floods. Encroachment reduces the capacity of these floodplains to mitigate flood risks, leaving nearby communities more vulnerable to inundation. J&K is experiencing the effects of climate change, including altered precipitation patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. Railway projects must account for these changing conditions, as they can increase the likelihood and severity of floods in the region. Railway infrastructure, such as bridges, embankments, and tunnels, can be vulnerable to damage during floods. If these structures fail, they can worsen flood impacts by obstructing water flow and causing additional destruction to surrounding areas.

Conclusion

The need of the hour is to understand these problems and to take necessary measures to tackle them. It is essential for railway authorities and policy makers to incorporate environmental considerations into the planning, design and implementation of railway projects in J&K. This can be done by including Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and implementing mitigation measures, more importantly engaging with local communities and stakeholders to address the concerns of these people and ensure sustainable development. Considering these concerns, the government should prioritised the welfare of affected families by offering compensation in the form of employment opportunities. Before proceeding further, the government should thoroughly assess the situation and mitigate effects on the local economy.

 

 


Email:-------------------------waninadu61@gmail.com


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