Govt steps in to save water bodies in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 17: In a bid to restore the dying water bodies of North Kashmir, the government has sanctioned projects worth Rs 6.19 crore for the rejuvenation of Khuwansar and Sheikh Sar in Sumbal, and the Branwari storage tank in Kupwara, under the AMRUT 2.0 mission.

As per an official communication issued by the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, Rs 4.69 crore has been allocated for the conservation of Khuwansar and Sheikh Sar, while Rs 1.5 crore will be spent on the restoration of Branwari tank. The sanction, accorded by the Mission Director, AMRUT (Urban) 2.0, Jammu and Kashmir, falls under the “Conservation and Rejuvenation of Urban Water Bodies” scheme (SSASCI). The respective municipal committees have been directed to start the tendering process immediately.

Officials said the initiative aims to revive the long-neglected water bodies that have suffered extensive degradation due to untreated sewage discharge, encroachments, and unregulated waste dumping.

Environmentalists, however, caution that without operational sewage treatment plants and strict monitoring, the lakes may continue to deteriorate.

Once teeming with fish, lotus stems, and migratory birds, Khuwansar now lies in distress. Years of unchecked pollution have turned it into a foul-smelling swamp. Residents recall how the lake’s lotus cultivation (nadroo) once sustained hundreds of families in nearby villages, including Bat Mohalla, Gunzripora, and Inderkoot.

In Kupwara, the Branwari storage tank faces a similar crisis of encroachment, siltation, and garbage dumping. The Rs 1.5 crore project aims to clean, desilt, and restore the tank’s storage capacity.

Environmental experts stress that the government’s latest move under AMRUT 2.0 could be transformative if backed by strict enforcement. “Rejuvenation must not mean cosmetic beautification—it should revive the natural water cycle, biodiversity, and community connection with these lakes,” they said.

For now, the government’s intervention has sparked cautious optimism in both Sumbal and Kupwara. But whether the sanctioned crores translate into genuine ecological recovery or remain another bureaucratic formality depends on what happens next — as Kashmir’s dying lakes wait for a second life.