Shalbugh wetland is one of the important wetlands that is located in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Shalbugh wetland was once known for its great ecological and socio economic importance and designated as the Ramsar site of international importance under the Ramsar Convention but for the last many years, the Shalbugh wetland is craving for immediate attention of the concerned authorities’ due to its dying and drying. The total area of shalbugh wetland is 16.0 sq. km and its present condition on ground level is dismal and worrying. One who visits the wetland finds only a dry pastureland devoid of water. Shalbugh wetland was an important constituent of an ecosystem and always acted as a kidney by regulating water and filtering wastes from landscape. It was absorbing a great amount of carbon dioxide gas and helped to reduce global warming. It provided tremendous ecological and socioeconomic services. It was a biological hotspot and played a great role in conservation of nature. It was providing fresh water supply, helped in regulation of regional climate, land stabilization, flood control, harbour rich biodiversity, improving water quality, recharge ground water, protect shorelines’, and provided habitat for many aquatic flora and fauna species. It was a great source of natural products like fish, water chestnut, rootstocks of lotus plants (locally known as Nadru), fodder, vegetables, and a variety of important aquatic plants and tourism. It was also a great source of employment to local people of adjoining areas. Shalbugh wetland was considered safe habitat for millions of domestic and migratory birds. Migratory birds thronged the wetland during winters across the globe particularly from Siberia, central Asia, Northern Europe, Ladakh, China and central Asia. Some of the common migratory birds once thronged in lakhs to the Shalbugh wetland were Geese, Bar Geese, common Teal, Shoveller, Coot, Hoonk,Pintail, Graylag, Mallard, Gadwall, white eyed Pochard, Red Crested Pochard, Heeled Duck etc. The Shalbugh wetland was almost in good form and condition until September 2014 and thereafter its conditions deteriorated largely due to disastrous floods in September 2014 followed by many reasons and factors particularly massive urbanization, heavy pollution, global warming, climate change, unplanned growth, siltation, raw sewage, and land encroachments. September 2014 floods brought complete devastation to the Shalbugh wetland. The said floods choked the wetland and its important feeding channels completely as they brought huge quantities of silt, mud, biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste through the Sindh Nallah , Anchar Lake and other streams. September 2014 floods not only reduced the shalbugh wetland area and depth but also added to its dying and drying as well. Despite being one of the famous Ramar sites, no tangible measures have been taken yet to restore its pristine and fascinating glory that comprised an important habitat for lakhs of migratory and local birds. Diverting of water sources of the Shalbugh wetland to other areas have tremendously affected the nature of the wetland. It not only made the wetland-deserted land but also affected the migratory visits of lakhs of birds. Diverting water sources to other areas without suggestions from wetland experts damaged the safe habitat and nestling grounds of many species of birds. Absence of water in the wetland caused complete extinction of aquatic flora and fauna species like fish, water chestnuts’, Nadru, vegetables, etc. The extinction of fish, water chestnuts, Nadru, vegetables and traditional reed mates locally called Wagoo made from wild vegetation growing on the Shalbugh wetland affected the livelihood of thousands of marginal people who have been solely dependent on the wetland resources directly and indirectly. The famous bird watcher of the Kashmir valley Reyan sofi said, “During my recent visit with the Environmental Policy Group members to the Shalbugh wetland, only few local bird species got captured in my camera that indicates its pathetic condition”. The wetland that spreads over thousands of kanals is presenting a deserted look during this period. The Environment policy group members also could not see even a single migratory bird during their recent visit to the wetland though flocks of sheep, herds of cattle and other animals were seen grazing in the dry fields.
Shalbugh wetland was really a blessing and precious gift of the almighty Allah to the people of the valley due its immense socioeconomic and ecological importance. It needs immediate attention of the government and all the concerned departments. It is a right of every citizen, the J & K Wetland Authority, wildlife department, Flood and irrigation control department to protect and preserve it. NGOs’, Environment Policy Group, Green Citizen Council, Civil society, religious leaders, civilized people should also come forward and join hands together with the government and the concerned authorities for its speedy revival and restoration for the benefit of all the people and the environment. Let’s hope it’s revival very soon.
Encroachment of the wetland by greedy and materialistic people also converted some portions of the wetland into agricultural fields. An insecure and unmarked whole wetland area easily invites encroachers to encroach the wetland. The wetland has also been extensively encroached upon by massive plantations. Population pressure and an unplanned development around the wetland have led to further stress on the Shalbugh wetland. Lack of knowledge and awareness among people about the importance of the wetland and poor conservation measures, maintenance and management programmes have drastically affected the ecosystem of Shalbugh wetland. According to locals, pollution from agricultural runoff and careless people immensely contributed to destruction and dying of the Shalbugh wetland. Disposal of biomedical waste by SKIMS Soura into the Anchar Lake also contributed to its dying. Global warming and climate change together have completely changed the morphology and physiology of the wetland and put it suffocating severely on the deathbed. The restoration and rejuvenation measures if taken earlier would not have converted the wetland into dry land. Construction of necessary embankments and bunds to maintain its adequate water level for its life also strangulated the wetland further. An insecure and unmarked whole wetland area easily invites encroachers to encroach the wetland. The wild life department should be very proactive and vibrant for its conservation and preservation. They should secure the whole wetland area by developing an attractive fence line along its whole boundary. The Shalbugh wetland can be saved from the dying and drying and revived once again as it was before September 2014. Several immediate measures are required. Education and awareness among the people through seminars, workshops, debates etc. about the importance of the Shalbugh wetland and encouraging them to preserve and protect it. People particularly residing near the Shalbugh wetland should involve themselves in its protection and preservation instead of encroaching and polluting. Irrigation and flood control department should uninterruptedly maintain its good water level so that the entire drying and deserted wetland will revert to its original form. The government must adopt robust management strategies for conservation, protection and restoration of the Shalbugh wetland. All encroached wetland must be retrieved from the encroachers and they should be heavily fined and imprisoned under laws of the land. Addressing and treating point sources and nonpoint sources of pollution in the vicinity and catchments would improve the trophic status of the wetland in peril. Removal of unnecessary wild vegetation, biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes, and dense weeds will give it a new breath and life. Creating a barrier or green zones for protection of the wetland ecosystem, setting up robust treatment plants within the wetland will save and improve the health of the dying Shalbugh wetland. Shalbugh wetland was really a blessing and precious gift of the almighty Allah to the people of the valley due its immense socioeconomic and ecological importance. It needs immediate attention of the government and all the concerned departments. It is a right of every citizen, the J & K Wetland Authority, wildlife department, Flood and irrigation control department to protect and preserve it. NGOs’, Environment Policy Group, Green Citizen Council, Civil society, religious leaders, civilized people should also come forward and join hands together with the government and the concerned authorities for its speedy revival and restoration for the benefit of all the people and the environment. Let’s hope it’s revival very soon.
(The author is a teacher at Govt. Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwa Budgam. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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