EPG writes to CM Omar about ‘wetland destruction’

Srinagar, Nov 8: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) on Friday wrote to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanding a high-level enquiry into the systematic “death and destruction” of Kashmir’s premier wetlands due to “callous attitude and mismanagement by Wildlife Department officials”.

The EPG, an environmental advocacy group that promotes sustainable environmental policies in J&K, appealed to the J&K government to take immediate action to address the alarming degradation of the region’s premier wetlands.

In a letter addressed to CM Omar, the EPG highlighted the dire conditions of internationally-recognised wetlands like Hokersar, Haigam, Shallabugh, and Mirgund, which are facing “systematic destruction and mismanagement”.

“These wetlands, which should be teeming with life, water, flora, and fauna, are now rapidly becoming dry and barren lands. It is a tragic irony that the very officials tasked with conserving these areas have become the agents of their destruction,” the letter stated.

The EPG’s findings from on-the-ground visits present a grim picture of the state of these vital ecosystems.

“Hokersar Wetland, once known as the ‘Queen of Wetlands’, is now gasping for breath, with repeated failures to meet deadlines for water restoration. The wetland may not even be able to host migratory birds this season, further compromising its ecological importance.

“Haigham Wetland is in a particularly dire condition, with silt accumulation, widespread encroachment, and the conversion of wetland areas into orchards and paddy fields. Shockingly, some of these encroachments involve retired and serving employees of the Wildlife Department, a clear violation of the Ramsar Convention’s protection mandate.

“Shallabugh Wetland has been neglected, with breaches caused by last year’s flooding left unrepaired, leading to the wetland drying up. The Wildlife Department’s claims of impending repairs raise questions about the prioritization of these critical issues.

“Narakarra Wetland and Nambal: The EPG is deeply concerned about the encroachment and destruction of Narakarra Wetland – an important flood absorption basin. Despite status quo orders issued by the Division Bench of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the land mafia with official patronage has continued to play havoc with it by colonising it.

Moreover, the land has also been allocated to some educational institutions. This needs to be seriously enquired into and violators and responsible personnel brought to book.

“Riverbed Mining: The illegal riverbed mining of minor minerals has caused severe damage and destruction to rivers and nallahs. Every rule in the book has been violated. The rules provide for manual mining to provide livelihood and income to local communities but the mafia has resorted to the use of JCBs, excavators, and other heavy machinery to excavate not only minor minerals like sand and gravel but huge boulders in the depths thereby demolishing banks, denuding the Nallahs and streams which is likely to have disastrous consequences of degradation of environment and ecosystem, failure of agriculture due to shortage of irrigation on account of fall of water table. It will also be a huge risk to the population due to the uncontrolled flow of water during heavy rains and floods.

“Across these wetlands, the EPG has documented widespread illegal encroachment and extraction of resources, often with the apparent collusion of Wildlife Department officials.

The ‘Mitti Mafia’ has been particularly active in Hokersar, where large quantities of soil have been clandestinely removed.

“The drying up of our premier wetlands has caught the attention of wetland experts of international repute, but our calls for action have fallen on deaf ears. This reflects a casual, non-serious attitude and insensitivity of officials towards this very serious situation,” the letter mentions.

“As a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, India is legally bound to protect and preserve these wetlands, not only for their environmental significance but also to support the local communities that have depended on them for centuries. However, the EPG's findings suggest a complete disregard for these obligations.

“The restoration of Kashmir's wetlands is essential not only for the environment but also for the well-being of the local communities. These wetlands are the lifeblood of the region, and their degradation is causing immense hardship to the people who have relied on them for their livelihoods,” the letter mentions.

The EPG is now calling for the J&K government to take immediate and decisive action to address this critical issue.

The group is demanding a high-level inquiry into the mismanagement and degradation of these wetlands, as well as urgent steps to restore water levels, investigate illegal activities, and hold those responsible accountable.

“We sincerely hope that under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, immediate action will be taken to address these issues,” the EPG said.