SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: There were about 50 wetlands in and around Srinagar city, but these wetlands are on verge of extinction due to illegal encroachments and land filling process. Last month STATE TIMES published a detailed Report about the poor condition of world famous Hokarsar wetland, a known stopover for the migratory birds from central Asia, Siberia and many other countries.
The National Green Tribunal has taken serious action towards the administration of Jammu and Kashmir and informed that current situation of the wetlands in Kashmir is not good and the administration should present detailed data on these wetlands besides submitting a detailed note regarding steps taken for recovery and protection of these wetlands.
The famous wetlands of Srinagar city Nigeen Lake, Khushalsar, Aanchaar Lake, Gillisar Lake, Pokhribal and many others lakes were once vast and thriving water-bodies with clear water and a source of livelihood for many, but today these water bodies are in bad condition due to encroachments and land-filling.
Last year in February, the local administration started clearing encroachments from Khushal Sar Lake located in the old Srinagar city and removed many encroachments, retrieving over 30 kanals of the lake area.
The administration also completed relevant formalities, like inspections, verifications and issuance of notices to encroachers.
Identified encroachments in the lake include around 80 houses, details of which were compiled last year by the district revenue department. The other 220 encroachments are in the forms of fenced landholdings, plinths and sheds, and also include under-construction structures.
The District Magistrate has also ordered a probe into illegal power connections to these structures and the possible involvement of officials in their construction as well.
After bringing back the Khushal Sar to its old glory, the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) under the ‘Mission Ehsaas’ in collaboration with the administration has pushed the machines towards the Gilsar where the process of cleaning has been started.
The Gilsar is adjacent to the already cleaned Khushal Sar which once appeared to be dead but was cleaned in a record 100 days time, beginning in February. The water body now presents a pristine look.
As per officials, about the encroachments in the Gilsar, the Divisional Administration along with other allied departments will be carrying out the land retrieval process as the cleaning process is going in a smooth way.
Notably, National Green Tribunal is very serious about the protection and retrieval of wetlands in the Jammu and Kashmir and now at the last stage the Administration has woken up fully after a long period of time.
Many senior citizens of Srinagar, while talking to STATE TIMES, expressed satisfaction as administration is now working on this project. Earlier, wetlands were not on the ground bur only name plates were there .This project should be completed as early as possible, they added.
Recently administration ordered demolishing of structures constructed on wetland in Peerbagh area of Srinagar.
Now Srinagar Administration has ordered demolishing of illegal encroachments in and around the all wetlands.
The first and effective drive was done by Srinagar Administration under the guidance of Deputy commissioner Srinagar Mohd Aijaz Assad, during which 4 shops, 3 residential houses and 5 boundary walls were demolished to retrieve state land.
The DC stated that the demolition drive will continue with more vigour in the future so that pristine glory of the historical water channel is restored in the larger public interest. It is to be noted here that Khushal Sar has now been restored with three navigational routes.
It is to be noted here that while the tourists used to pass through Khushal Sar, Gilsar on Shikaras years ago using the navigation route, the same has also been re-started by the Department of Tourism soon after the Khushal Sar regained its lost beauty. It has been learned that the Shikara navigation has started from Pokhribal to Gilsar and once the Gilsar is brought back to its lost glory, the navigation will be extended further.