A ground report from Kashmir’s world-famous Betaab Valley in Pahalgam highlights growing concerns over unchecked concretisation and flawed development models threatening the region’s fragile ecology. Once renowned for pristine meadows, natural streams, and lush grasslands featured extensively in Bollywood cinema, the valley now witnesses extensive construction activity, including artificial island parks, heavy concrete slabs, and iron railings. The report underscores how such thoughtless infrastructure projects and government spending disrupt natural landscapes that should ideally remain virgin and eco-preserved. Both local residents and visiting tourists have expressed disappointment over replacing natural beauty with concrete structures. The report urges administrative authorities and senior officials to intervene, reconsider unnecessary civil works, and adopt sustainable preservation practices to safeguard Kashmir’s natural heritage.
