Residential buildings and commercial structures coming up near the wetlands show that there are no legal restrictions on residential and commercial constructions near the wetlands in the peripheries of Srinagar city and few major towns of Kashmir Valley.
Wetlands in Kashmir are undoubtedly the sources of tourist attractions but Government’s failure in preserving and protecting them is also a wake call for the environmentalist in Kashmir. Recently world environment day was observed in Jammu & Kashmir like other parts of the country but preservation of wetland was not highlighted the way it should have been highlighted on this day. Fortunately a couple of environmental groups have taken birth in recent years in Kashmir but like many environmentalists already engaged in public awareness on protection and preservation of environment in Kashmir these new environmental groups are also connecting themselves on increasing stress of urbanisation and climate change on environment in Kashmir. Undoubtedly growing urbanisation and climate change are the major causes of the increasing shrinkage of major wetlands in Kashmir but the land grabbers and civil construction companies too are also encroaching wetlands in most parts of Kashmir Valley. Residential buildings and commercial structures coming up near the wetlands show that there are no legal restrictions on residential and commercial constructions near the wetlands in the peripheries of Srinagar city and few major towns of Kashmir Valley. Administrative wisdom demands that department of ecology, environment and remote sensing department brings to the notice of Housing & Urban Development Department the threats residential and commercial constructions pose to the survival of the already shrinking wetlands in different parts of Kashmir Valley, . For all practical purposes the restrictions on residential and commercial constructions near wetlands can further the bigger causes of biodiversity and climate regulation not only in Kashmir Valley but in several parts of Jammu division as well. A cursory look at the encroachments of wetlands in Jammu & Kashmir may reveal the involvement of some of the top former public functionaries of the Government and senior leaders of some leading political parties in the encroachment of some of the key wetlands in Kashmir.
“A casual approach on restoration of the encroachments of wetlands in any part of Jammu & Kashmir and more so in Kashmir valley may lead to more environmental imbalances across Kashmir. Environmentalists both individually and in groups tend to wake up the powers in the Government from deep slumber but ultimately it is for the Government to take some major initiatives for curbing the wetland encroachments and restore the encroached areas of key wetlands across Jammu & Kashmir.”
Environmental experts have been time and again voicing their concerns over the unprecedented drop in the no of migratory birds flocking during migratory seasons to key wetlands like Hokersar wetland but unfortunately Government does not taking a serious note of the concerns of the environmentalists on unprecedented rise in construction activities near wetlands. Legal and administrative actions against the people carrying out construction activities near wetlands could be a major initiative towards restoration of the pristine glory of some of the key wetlands in Kashmir Valley. A casual approach on restoration of the encroachments of wetlands in any part of Jammu & Kashmir and more so in Kashmir valley may lead to more environmental imbalances across Kashmir. Environmentalists both individually and in groups tend to wake up the powers in the Government from deep slumber but ultimately it is for the Government to take some major initiatives for curbing the wetland encroachments and restore the encroached areas of key wetlands across Jammu & Kashmir.
