GUREZ, May 31 -- Unregulated pitching of non-local tents in the picturesque Gurez Valley has sparked serious environmental concerns, with residents and environmental activists alleging that the practice is damaging the fragile ecosystem of the region.

Sources further revealed that most of these temporary camping setups lack basic sanitation facilities, forcing visitors to use open fields for defecation and other nature calls, posing additional threats to the environment and public hygiene.

It is pertinent to mention that the Gurez administration had imposed restrictions on unauthorized tent pitching in previous years after similar concerns were raised by locals and tourists alike. However, residents claim that the practice has resurface...