Thajiwas Glacier and Wildlife
Thajiwas glacier has almost received a fresh life because of heavy snowfall. Today it looks at majestic as it was in the past. But the reality is Thajiwas glacier has receded to great extend in the past one decade and the authorities have played with this ecological asset of the area. It has shrunk to great extent and the authorities have done nothing to save it from further decay. Similarly, Thajiwas Wildlife Sanctuary has high level Alpine Fir forests. The main flora species are Spruce, Texus, Betula, Maple H.C. Nut and Ash Parropia. According to Wildlife officials, Thajiwas Wildlife Sanctuary in its core zone has lot of Snow Leopard, Brown Bear, Markhore, Himalayan Wolf, Jackal Ibex, Musk Deer and Ladakh Goat.
Wildlife Sanctuary of Thajiwas is 25 sq kms area its boundaries are Gangager, Sonamarg, through Sonamarg green Bowl upto Zansaskar Pass. It has a disturbed habitat due to reasons like Tourism activities; it has shallow soil touching the glaciers almost throughout the year.
Learning no lessons from the ecological disaster of Uttrakhand, J&K Government is having its own priorities and most of the politicians and bureaucrats have other issues to tackle with.
The previous political dispensations constructed huge Sonamarg Club inside the Wildlife Sanctuary of Thajiwas area, previously there was a ban on all constructions and have allowed only tented accommodation in this area. The permission to the constructions inside the bowl has been given by State Cabinet on the recommendations of Town Planning Wing who have basically made the Master Plan for Sonamarg.
