Disappearing Sponges: Kashmir’s natural flood barriers vanishing

Srinagar, Sep 5: Once acting as vast natural sponges that absorbed floodwaters and sheltered migratory birds, Kashmir’s wetlands are vanishing under concrete.

More than 7600 kanal of these marshes have been lost to encroachment, government records show, raising fears of worsening floods in the already vulnerable Valley.

Amidst the persistent flooding of many parts of Kashmir and a looming flood threat to others, a compelling question is undismissable: Could the wetlands hold the power to avert the crisis if they had stayed safe?

In Kashmir, data reveals, 7624 kanal of vital wetlands have been lost to encroachment, the nature’s sponges thus becoming concrete bases where houses and offices sprawl.

In reply to an RTI by environment activist M M Shuja, the Wildlife Warden, Wetlands Division, Kashmir, said that 385.7 hectares of wetlands have been encroached.

This translates into 7624 kanal (more prevalent unit of measurement in Kashmir).

The Hokersar Wetland Conservation Reserve (WLCR) tops the list with a whopping 3784 kanal under encroachment.

This is followed by Hygam WLCR, where 1895 kanal have been encroached upon.

At Mirgund WLCR 1774 kanal are under encroachment.

Smaller wetlands like 86 kanal Chatlam and 75 kanal Shallabugh have also not been spared.

In Freshkoori WLCR, the encroachment has started, the first 12.85 kanal have gone.

The details from the government office regarding the unabated and unaddressed encroachment of wetlands must have shaken any administration into action.

However, the Wildlife Warden has said that the steps taken to address the issue are “notices served”. An unimaginable number of notices have been served to the encroachers in these areas.

At Hokersar, 515 notices have been served, while 439 notices have been served to the offenders encroaching upon other wetlands.

The seriousness of the authorities towards restoring the functions of wetlands, including that of absorbing excess waters, can be gauged from the official document referred to. Wetlands are known to soak up rainwater, snowmelt, and glacial runoff, regulate water flow and run-off.

Hokersar, Hygam, and other reserves act as critical flood control systems.

These have historically buffered the flood-prone Kashmir from inundation.

Experts assert that intact wetlands could drastically reduce the impact of events like the 2014 floods.

According to a report by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, GoI, J&K has lost 57 percent of its wetlands in just a decade. This is driven by urbanisation, agricultural expansion, and illegal constructions, thus directly correlating with heightened flood risks.

Not just the floods, the encroached wetlands mean diminished biodiversity.

The migratory bird habitats are shrinking, and aquatic species are declining.

Wetlands are also carbon sinks and aid in climate regulation. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) earlier directed the J&K government to curb illegal activities, waste dumping, and encroachments of wetlands.

Enforcement never followed.