Hygam Wetland On The Verge Of Extinction

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is well-known for its scenic and mesmerising wetlands that not only add beauty to the state but also provide many ecological services and support lakhs of people directly and indirectly. The most famous picturesque wetlands in the state of Jammu and Kashmir are Hygam, Hokersar and Wular, Surinsar, Mansar etc. Hygam, Hokersar and Wular in Kashmir and Surinsar and Mansar in Jammu have been identified and declared as Ramsar Wetland of International importance. Once upon a time, Hygam pristine wetland was a biological hotspot and played a very important role in the conservation of nature. It provided a number of ecological services such as fresh water supply, regulation of regional climate, flood control, harbour rich biodiversity, removing pollutants from water, improving water quality, recharging ground water, protecting shorelines and providing habitat for aquatic flora and fauna. It used to be a sweet home for lakhs of migratory birds coming from many countries of different continents. Hygam wetland was not only a safe habitat for migratory and resident birds but also served feeding, breeding and nestling ground for innumerable migratory and resident birds as well. It was a great source of natural products like fish, water chestnut, rootstocks of lotus roots (locally called Nadru), fodder, vegetables, and a variety of important aquatic plants. It was also a source of livelihood to thousands of local people. The traditional reed mats locally called Wagoo was made from Wild vegetation that was growing on the Hygam wetland. It acted as a buffer against the floods. Until 1989, the Hygam wetland was in its full youth and thereafter it has been the worst hit and became victim of ‘anthropogenic pressures’. Its condition has changed and deteriorated due to multitude of anthropogenic factors and reasons. Massive urbanization, heavy pollution, unplanned growth, siltation, raw sewage, and land encroachment are some major factors and reasons. The encroachment of wetland due to apathy and negligence of concerned officials and materialistic and lawless people encroached the vast area of wetland at many places. It is pertinent to mention here that during encroachments, encroachers had adopted different ways and tactics for encroachment of the Hygam wetland. Many encroachers had erected concrete structures on wetland during unavoidable circumstances in the valley and some gradually brought the wetland into their own cultivating land leaving no space for the concerned authorities’ to act. Some encroachers had taken advantage of the callous approach of the concerned departments. The Hygam wetland once acting as kidneys remained no longer so due to massive encroachments. The encroachment and infrastructure development within the wetland have reduced its water holding capacity and increased the vulnerability of the people towards floods. The wetland continues to be encroached by unbridled encroachers. Population pressure, urbanization, and land use changes have led to further great stress on the Hygam wetland. The water pollution of Hygam wetland due to solid and liquid wastes from many industries, towns and villages has severely affected its water quality that has resulted in the extinction of many aquatic flora and fauna species. Wild growth of weeds due to fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural runoff has also choked the Hygam open waters to a larger area of wetland. A large number of poor people who draw their income from the wetland in the form of fishing, agriculture, tourism etc. have been severely affected. Fish, water chestnut, stocks of lotus roots, vegetables, fodder etc. became almost extinct and caused unemployment among the people of the surrounding areas. The floods from time to time, particularly in September 2014, loaded huge silt and other solid waste materials into the wetland that reduced its depth and increased density very much. According to EPG member Er. Ajaz Rasool, the silt deposited into the wetland is about 15 to 20 feet and needs immediate removal for its revival. Another expert member from EPG who is also the chairman of the J & K RTI Movement namely Dr. Raja Muzaffar said that removal of huge quantities of sand from the wetland will be used for development of public projects like ring road filling and other purposes that will not only generate good income but will save the karewa lands from ongoing destruction and devastation.
The wetland that once hosted lakhs of migratory and resident birds declined very much. The feeding and breeding grounds of the majority of birds were lost due to dying of wetland. The wetland remained only to provide shelter for migratory and resident birds instead of safe habitat. The colourful migratory birds that created high melodious chirping over the wetland and adjoining areas and attracted bird watchers, and tourists have abandoned the Hygam wetland and they have diverted their migratory routes to some other safer places due to dying of the wetland. It is pertinent to mention that EPG expert members recently visited the wetland and did not find even a single migratory bird due to its pathetic and deserted conditions. It is ironic that even some migratory birds hardly visit the wetland during the peak migratory season. Faiz Bakshi, Convenor of Environmental Policy Group (EPG) said, “Hygam wetland is dead and buried”. Ajaz ahmad, a civil society member from Tarzoo, said, “Strict action against the encroachers is the need of hour.’’ How Hygam wetland can be saved from the onslaught of destruction and revived once again as it was before 1989. Several immediate measures are required. Education and awareness among the people through seminars, workshops, debates etc. about the importance of the Hygam wetland and encouraging them to preserve and protect it. People residing near the Hygam wetland should involve themselves in its protection and preservation instead of encroaching and polluting the wetland. Irrigation and flood control department should uninterruptedly maintain its good water level so that all drying patches seen on the wetland will disappear. The government must adopt robust management strategies for conservation, protection and restoration. The Deputy commissioner Baramulla must issue strict orders for the demarcation of the whole wetland area and must remove all illegal encroachments in and around the wetland on war footing basis. All encroached wetland must be retrieved from the encroachers and they should be heavily fined and imprisoned.Control of siltation and removal of unnecessary silt on scientific lines, 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, dead lying logs, floating plastic bottles, other solid waste debris, and dense weeds from the wetland 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 Hygam wetland. Hygam 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 and the J & K Wetland Authority to protect and preserve it. Let us pledge, join hands together and cooperate with the government, concerned departments’, and the Environmental Policy Group to save the dying wetland from multidimensional threats so that the dying wetland will revive and restore its originality as it was before 1989.
(The author is a teacher at Govt Higher Secondary School Beerwa Budgam. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are author’s own and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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