EPG seeks inquiry over Mirgund Wetland's deteriorating condition

Srinagar, Nov 21: In its continued efforts to address the environmental challenges facing Kashmir’s wetlands, the Environmental Policy Group (EPG) conducted a  visit to the Mirgund Wetland, also known as Mirgund “Jheel,” located 16 kilometers from Srinagar on the route to Gulmarg.

Once a thriving bird sanctuary spanning approximately 4 square kilometers and primarily fed by the Sukhnag Nallah and the Jhelum Flood Spill Channel, the wetland now lies in an utterly desolate state.

The EPG has expressed grave concern over the alarming condition of the  wetland, which has now turned into a parched landscape due to mismanagement, lack of timely intervention, and insensitivity. During a recent visit, the EPG team, including Convener, Faiz Baskhi, Er Ajaz Rasool, Dr Tauseef Bhat, Ahmed Ayaz, Reyan Sofi, and Javaid Ahmad Ganie, found the wetland devoid of water and migratory birds, an indicator of the severe ecological degradation.

The EPG team found the wetland completely dry, devoid of water, marshes, or bird activity. This alarming transformation has turned a once-vibrant ecosystem into a barren grassland, raising serious concerns about mismanagement, neglect, and insensitivity to environmental preservation. The drying up of the wetland has led to encroachment and illegal activities in the area.

Some locals have begun cultivating portions of the wetland, ploughing the land and preparing it for agricultural use. Land mafias have also exploited the situation by marking plots with cement blocks and undertaking earth filling to raise ground levels, likely for sale or construction purposes.

The team noted that the wetland’s boundaries, as recorded in official revenue documents, were indistinguishable on the ground, exacerbating the encroachment issue. Although the Wildlife Department has begun efforts to reclaim encroached areas on the northern side of the wetland by erecting boundary pillars, the process has been agonizingly slow, taking over 15 years of legal battles in the courts.

Adding to the dismay, infrastructure managed by the Wildlife Department, such as a two-room shed commissioned in 2005, was found in a state of disrepair. The structure, with broken walls and missing doors and windows, symbolised the neglect faced by this critical wetland. Ironically, a signboard on the premises that once read “Life Thrives in Wetlands, Let’s Protect Them” stood in ruins, a stark reminder of the disparity between intent and reality.

The EPG team also identified failures in water management as a key factor behind the wetland’s deterioration. The Sukhnag Nallah, which could supply water to the wetland, remains disconnected due to a closed MS iron gate at the offtake point in Rakh Kawoosa village. The team observed that opening this gate could immediately restore water flow to the wetland, but no action has been taken in this regard.

During interactions with local stakeholders and Wildlife Department field staff, it became apparent that the higher authorities responsible for managing the wetland had failed to act proactively. Despite the drying of the wetland being partially attributable to climate change-induced drought conditions, the department’s lack of contingency planning and timely interventions has exacerbated the situation.

The Environmental Policy Group has called for an immediate high-level inquiry to determine the circumstances that led to the current state of the wetland. The EPG emphasised that globally, the rights of wetlands movement underscores the importance of preserving wetlands' ecological balance and natural hydrological connections—rights that have been grossly overlooked in the case of Mirgund.