Prevent siltation of Wular Lake

Surrounded by mountains in north Kashmir, Wular Lake, Asia’s one of the largest freshwater lakes, is confronted with extensive siltation. The lake is slowly choking up due to ingress of silt-laden waters gushing in the form of streams from mountains in its catchments.

Wular is considered to be an important part of our eco-system as it acts as a huge absorption basin for the annual floodwaters and maintains a balance in Kashmir’s hydrographic system. With a rich flora and fauna, the lake boasts of having important habitat for migratory water birds within Central Asian Flyway. The water body supports rich biodiversity and is a major fishing resource of Kashmir.

However, due to anthropogenic pressures and haphazard construction activities in catchments, Wular is facing several problems especially siltation and pollution. Though authorities are taking several measures to restore the glory of Wular, the pace of conservation is slower than its deterioration.

As per studies, traces of limestones have been found in silt that flows into the lake. Extensive deforestation in Wular catchment too has contributed to increasing silt influx into the lake during rains. Siltation has led to raising the bed of Wular, gradually decreasing its depth.

Environmentalists mince no words to warn that continuous siltation can spell doom on the lake.
There has to be extensive catchment treatment to minimise or prevent silt influx into Wular and is already battling several maladies. Increasing agricultural and horticulture activities on banks of Wular and its catchment is not only contributing to silt influx but pesticides and chemicals harmful for the lake’s flora and fauna.

Besides, in absence of Sewage Treatment Plants, sewage generated in the lake’s catchment too is poisoning the lake.

As per Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), five sq km of lake area had been dredged so far incurring cost of Rs 196 crore and 22 sq km more critically silted area was to be dredged now. It is an uphill task to dredge out silted portions of the lake. Who is responsible for the deteriorating condition of Wular? It is the successive regimes which failed to take scientific measures to save this natural asset.

This is the same Wular which was designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 1990—in recognition of its immense ecological and socio-economic importance, Wular was extensively encroached upon mainly by massive plantation of trees and unbridled extension of agricultural fields into the water body severely affecting fish and bird species.

A survey conducted by the Wetland International-South Asia has pointed how direct discharge of solid and liquid wastes from the settlements all along river Jhelum, mainly from Srinagar city and other towns in the upstream areas have led to degradation of water quality and health hazards to the communities living around the Wular lake. Embankments were built up at various lake contour levels for the protection of crops and settlements against floods thereby fragmenting the lake eco-system and changing its ecological character.

The area of the lake in 1911 was 217 sq.km, which includes 58 Sq.Km of associated marshes. As per the study, the lake has been reduced from 157.74 sq.km to less than 86 sq.km, the study states. Overall there has been a reduction in the lake area by 45 percent, mainly due to conversion of agriculture (28 percent) and plantation (17 percent). Further associated marshes were reduced by 70 percent again due to conversions for agriculture and settlements.

Official figures stated that the total lake area spans around 130 sq km. WUCMA states that 11 km of vulnerable boundary had been consolidated by bunds and chain-link fencing and this year and the entire periphery of 84 km had been demarcated by geo-tagged boundary pillars.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has recently called for taking additional measures to clean and beautify Wular Lake and also directed to act tough against the encroachers. Financial Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Dheeraj Gupta has maintained that the Jammu & Kashmir government is committed to restoring and revitalising Wular Lake, with a special focus on ecotourism and improving the livelihoods of local communities. He has emphasised on the importance of analysing previous efforts and their outcomes to ensure more effective and coordinated action to restore the glory of the lake.

Government is showing its seriousness to save Wular. It is high time for translating words into action on the ground and it is the duty of all stakeholders to extend a helping hand. We have to take note of the time factor in environmental projects. Much damage has been done to Wular due to extensive pollution, siltation and encroachments.

There is a need for sustained scientific conservation measures. Besides engaging local environmentalists, there is no harm in taking help of global experts to expedite restoration and long-term conservation of Wular. Expertise of local inhabitants can also help to devise comprehensive solutions to issues confronting the lake. Both modern and traditional measures can be helpful to prevent further deterioration of the lake.

We have to own Wular and other water bodies, as our survival depends on these natural formations!

Author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir