SRINAGAR: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has sounded a grave alarm over the substantial disappearance of lakes and water bodies across Jammu and Kashmir, citing a recent Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report as a critical warning that demands immediate and time-bound government intervention.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the CAG’s findings reveal the complete disappearance of 315 lakes, representing nearly 45 percent of the total water bodies in the Union Territory. This alarming statistic points towards a severe ecological crisis and a systemic failure in conservation efforts, according to the EPG.
Faiz Bakshi, Convenor of the EPG, stated that the CAG report corroborates concerns the organization has been voicing for over a decade. He cautioned that the actual extent of wetland loss might be even greater than officially documented, stressing the need for accountability and concrete action rather than mere policy pronouncements.
Ecological Degradation and Systemic Failures
The EPG highlighted the deteriorating condition of vital wetlands, including Haigham and Shallabugh, describing them as ecologically significant habitats currently under severe stress due to neglect and mismanagement. The Mirgund wetland, once a vibrant ecosystem, has reportedly transformed into grassland in recent years, primarily attributed to insufficient water inflow, poor maintenance, and a shortage of essential staff.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the degradation of Hokersar, Haigham, and Shallabugh wetlands, which are designated under the Ramsar Convention. This decline poses a significant challenge to India’s commitment to its international obligations concerning wetland conservation.
Encroachment and Non-Compliance with Directives
The environmental group alleged that illegal activities, such as soil extraction and reported instances of open gunfire within the Hokersar wetland, underscore a lack of robust enforcement on the ground. Wetlands in both north and south Kashmir are reportedly facing increasing encroachment, with areas being converted into agricultural land, orchards, and commercial spaces, leading to a substantial reduction in wetland area and a loss of biodiversity.
Narrakara Nambal was cited by the EPG as a particularly egregious example, where the wetland is allegedly being transformed into a residential and commercial colony, a clear violation of a High Court status quo order. The EPG further questioned the compliance status of a Supreme Court directive issued in December 2024. This directive mandated ground-truthing and demarcation of wetlands, yet there is no publicly accessible information confirming the removal of encroachments or the preparation of relevant reports.
Call for Urgent Action
Criticizing what it termed an excessive reliance on promotional advertising campaigns, the EPG asserted that showcasing images of migratory birds cannot substitute for substantive conservation work. The group urged the government to initiate a time-bound inquiry into the matter, fix responsibility for the degradation, increase manpower dedicated to monitoring wetland health, and improve interdepartmental coordination to halt the further loss of these critical ecosystems in Jammu and Kashmir.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
