Brari Nambal Encroachment Should Be a Wake-Up Call
Ahmad Ayaz
Kashmir is blessed with extraordinary natural beauty. Its pleasant climate, majestic mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, meadows, springs and rich biodiversity have given the region a character that is unique and admired far beyond its boundaries. Srinagar, the heart of Kashmir, derives much of its identity from its lakes, waterways, gardens, green spaces and surrounding natural landscape. Kashmir is, without doubt, a potential world-class tourist destination. But its greatest tourism asset is not something that can be constructed in a few years. It is the natural environment that generations have inherited. That is precisely why the increasing signs of environmental degradation should concern everyone. Pollution, encroachment, unplanned construction, deforestation, indiscriminate tree cutting, improper disposal of waste, shrinking water bodies and deterioration of wetlands are placing increasing pressure on Kashmir’s fragile ecological balance. If these trends are not checked in time, the consequences will extend far beyond the environment. They will affect public health, tourism, urban life, water management, biodiversity and the quality of life of future generations. Environmental protection cannot be the responsibility of the government alone. It is a shared concern and a joint responsibility. The Government has an important, and perhaps primary, institutional responsibility to protect natural resources, enforce laws and prevent violations. But citizens, local communities, businesses, tourists, civil society and every individual who benefits from Kashmir’s natural wealth also have a responsibility to preserve it.
Nature Is Not Merely Scenery : There is sometimes a tendency to look at lakes, forests, trees, wetlands and green spaces simply as beautiful features of the landscape. Their importance, however, goes much deeper. Water bodies are essential components of the ecological system. Lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and natural drainage channels help regulate water systems, support aquatic life, provide habitats for birds and other species and contribute to the overall environmental balance. Forests perform equally vital functions. They support biodiversity, protect soil, contribute to water conservation and help regulate the local environment. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, reduce dust and pollution, provide shade, moderate temperatures and create habitats for birds and other living organisms. A mature tree is therefore much more than a piece of wood. A wetland is much more than an empty stretch of water or land. A lake is not simply a tourist attraction. These are natural assets that perform functions essential to human life. Once they are damaged or destroyed, replacing them is often impossible—or extremely expensive.
Srinagar, Its Water Bodies: Srinagar has a special relationship with water. The city’s history, culture, economy and visual identity have developed around its lakes, rivers, canals and wetlands. Dal Lake is the most visible example. It is not merely one of Kashmir’s most famous tourist attractions; it is a symbol of Srinagar itself. Shikaras, houseboats, surrounding mountains and the changing colours of the lake have made it an internationally recognised image of Kashmir. Yet Dal Lake has faced environmental pressures for decades. Pollution, sewage, waste, encroachment, excessive human activity and unplanned development have repeatedly raised concerns about its ecological health. The issue should not be viewed merely from the perspective of tourism. A degraded Dal Lake is a degraded natural ecosystem. If we genuinely want Kashmir to emerge as a world-class tourist destination, protecting Dal Lake and other water bodies must be regarded as an essential part of tourism policy rather than as a separate environmental issue.
Brari Nambal Should Be A Wake-Up Call: The situation concerning Brari Nambal deserves particular attention. Located within Srinagar city, Brari Nambal has considerable ecological, historical and tourism value. Yet concerns have repeatedly been raised about its condition, including pollution and recent alleged encroachment, with visuals of the activity circulating widely on social media. More recently, videos appearing on social media and other platforms seem to show portions of Brari Nambal being encroached upon, or subjected to activity that raises serious environmental concerns. These visuals deserve the immediate attention of the concerned authorities. The videos, of course, should be properly verified by the administration and relevant technical agencies. They should not be treated as conclusive evidence without an on-ground assessment. But the fact that such visuals are circulating should not be dismissed casually either. The appropriate response is straightforward: conduct an immediate inspection, verify the status of the land and water body, establish whether any encroachment or unauthorised activity has taken place, identify those responsible where a violation is established, and make the findings known. If there is no violation, the authorities can clarify the position publicly. If encroachment is established, however, it must be dealt with firmly and without delay. Natural water bodies cannot be allowed to become victims of gradual encroachment simply because individual acts appear small or insignificant. What begins as a minor occupation can eventually become a permanent alteration of the landscape.
Encroachment Is Not Merely A Land Issue : Encroachment of a water body or wetland is sometimes treated as a routine land or revenue matter. It should not be. When a wetland is encroached upon, its ecological function is compromised. When a natural water channel is narrowed or blocked, the consequences can be felt elsewhere. When drainage channels are occupied or obstructed, waterlogging and flooding can become more serious. This is why environmental considerations must be incorporated into decisions concerning land use, construction, urban planning and infrastructure. A water body cannot be treated simply as vacant government land. A wetland cannot be viewed as land waiting to be developed. A forest cannot be treated merely as a collection of trees. Each is part of a larger ecological system. Development cannot mean environmental destruction. Kashmir needs development. There is no question about that. The region needs better roads, improved public infrastructure, housing, tourism facilities, employment opportunities, modern civic amenities and economic growth. But development and environmental protection are not opposing objectives. The real challenge is to ensure that development is sustainable, planned and environmentally responsible. What is the point of developing a tourist destination while simultaneously destroying the natural attractions that bring tourists there? A hotel can be constructed. A road can be built. A commercial complex can be developed. But a natural lake, forest or mature ecosystem cannot simply be recreated once permanently destroyed. The principle should therefore be simple: Development should work with nature, not against it.
“The viral images of Brari Nambal are a wake-up call: true progress in Kashmir cannot come at the expense of its natural heritage. Protecting Srinagar’s lakes and landscapes demands immediate action, preventative care, and a shared commitment to building a sustainable future.”
Protecting Kashmir’s Trees And Forests: Kashmir’s trees and forests deserve particular protection. Urban expansion, road construction and infrastructure development may sometimes require tree cutting. But every such proposal should be carefully examined, and the first objective should be to minimise unnecessary loss of mature trees. Plantation programmes are important, but plantation should never become an excuse for indiscriminate removal of existing trees. A sapling planted today will take years to provide the environmental benefits of a mature tree. There is therefore a substantial difference between planting trees and preserving mature trees that have already taken decades to grow. Urban planners must also recognise the importance of green spaces. Srinagar and other towns need more, not fewer, trees and open areas. As temperatures rise and urbanisation increases, trees can play an increasingly important role in making cities more liveable. Pollution is everyone’s problem. Pollution is another major environmental challenge. Plastic waste, untreated sewage, garbage dumping, construction debris and other pollutants can eventually find their way into water bodies. Once pollution enters a lake or wetland, removing its consequences can be far more difficult than preventing it in the first place. The responsibility here is shared. Municipal authorities must provide adequate waste collection and disposal systems. Businesses must follow environmental norms. Households must dispose of waste responsibly. Visitors must avoid littering. Construction agencies must ensure that debris does not enter drains or water bodies. Citizens cannot demand a clean city while treating public spaces as dumping grounds. Nor can authorities expect public cooperation if civic systems for waste management are inadequate. Both sides have responsibilities. Tourism and environmental protection must go together. Kashmir’s tourism industry is directly dependent upon the environment. People do not travel thousands of kilometres merely to see concrete structures. They come to experience Kashmir’s mountains, lakes, forests, meadows, gardens, rivers, climate and cultural landscape. The natural environment is therefore effectively Kashmir’s first and most valuable tourism infrastructure. If that infrastructure is degraded, tourism will eventually suffer. Tourism stakeholders must therefore become partners in environmental protection. Hotels, restaurants, houseboats, transport operators, tour companies and other tourism-related businesses should follow strict environmental standards. Tourists, too, should be encouraged to respect the environment. The message should be clear: visitors are welcome to enjoy Kashmir’s beauty, but that beauty must be left intact for those who come after them.
Government Accountability Matters : While environmental protection is a joint responsibility, there should be no ambiguity about the government’s role. The administration has the authority, institutional machinery and legal framework to protect public resources. Where encroachments occur, the concerned departments should know what land belongs to which category. Records of lakes, wetlands, forests and other environmentally sensitive areas should be accurately maintained and protected from manipulation. There should also be effective coordination among departments dealing with revenue, lakes and waterways, forests, municipal administration, urban planning, tourism and pollution control. A fragmented approach creates gaps in accountability. If an encroachment takes place, some basic questions must be answered: When did it occur? Who was responsible for monitoring the area? Was the violation reported? What action was taken? If no action was taken, why not? Accountability does not mean blaming officials without evidence. It means ensuring that public institutions function effectively and that responsibility does not disappear between departments.
Citizens Must Also Become Partners: Citizens, too, need to become active partners in environmental protection. We cannot expect the government to monitor every street, drain, tree, lake and wetland at every moment. Local communities are often the first to notice environmental violations. Their complaints should therefore be taken seriously, and mechanisms should exist for prompt verification and action. At the same time, citizens must themselves act responsibly. Littering, dumping waste into water bodies, damaging trees, occupying public land, blocking natural drainage and encouraging illegal construction are not acceptable simply because others may also be doing so. The environment belongs to everyone. We need an environmental culture. Ultimately, laws alone cannot protect Kashmir. What Kashmir needs is an environmental culture. Children should be taught from an early age that lakes, rivers, forests, trees and wetlands are not merely beautiful things to look at but essential parts of the ecosystem. Schools can encourage tree planting and conservation activities. Communities can participate in protecting local water bodies. Civil society can monitor environmental concerns. The media can continue highlighting violations as well as successful conservation initiatives. Most importantly, environmental protection should rise above political affiliations. Nature does not distinguish between political parties, communities or social groups. Polluted water affects everyone. Flooding affects everyone. Poor air quality affects everyone. Loss of forests affects everyone. Environmental degradation therefore demands a collective response. What Kashmir will we leave behind? The larger question is what kind of Kashmir we want to leave behind. Do we want future generations to experience the same lakes, forests, trees, springs, wetlands and green spaces that we inherited? Or will we leave them photographs and stories of what Kashmir once looked like? That choice is being made today—through every decision about land, construction, roads, trees, water bodies, waste and tourism. Environmental destruction rarely happens overnight. It often begins quietly: one encroachment here, one tree cut there, one drain blocked, one wetland filled, one garbage dump created. Individually, each action may appear small. Collectively, however, such actions can transform an entire landscape. That is why prevention is so important.
A Shared Responsibility For Kashmir’s Future: Kashmir’s environment is not merely an asset for today. It is a trust that we hold for future generations. The Government must protect it through effective laws, enforcement, planning, monitoring and accountability. Citizens must protect it through responsible behaviour. Businesses must protect it through environmentally sound practices. Tourists must respect it. And society as a whole must recognise that natural resources cannot be treated as unlimited. The recent visuals circulating about Brari Nambal should therefore serve as more than another social-media discussion. They should prompt the authorities to look closely at the condition of Srinagar’s water bodies and natural assets. The first requirement is verification. The next is action wherever violations are established. The question should not be whether we react after an environmental resource has been damaged beyond repair. The question is why we allowed the damage to happen in the first place. Kashmir does not need development at the cost of its natural heritage. It needs development that protects and enhances that heritage. Its lakes, wetlands, rivers, forests, trees, plants, mountains and meadows are not obstacles to progress. They are the foundation upon which a sustainable future can be built. If Kashmir is to become a truly world-class tourist destination, it must first remain the Kashmir that nature created. Protecting that Kashmir is not the responsibility of one department, one government or one generation. It is a shared concern and a joint responsibility of us all.
(The author a leading political commentator is is a freelancer. 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”)
