Restoring old springs of Shaher e Khas

I have been following the water bodies’ restoration work taken up by Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo and his team Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation-NLCO very closely from day one. I wrote a series of articles in Greater Kashmir from Feb 2021 onwards when he began the Mission Ehsaas to restore Khushal Sar and Gilsar lakes in Srinagar’s Shaher e Khas.

On December 9th 2023, I wrote an article titled “ Mission Ehsaas has concluded, the show must go on”. I had never imagined that the show would really go on even after 3 years’ long struggle to retrieve these twin urban lakes. Pertinently November 30th 2023 had marked the culmination of Mission Ehsaas which is referred to as a community-led cleanliness campaign for the restoration of the Gilsar-Khushal Sar lakes.

The show didn’t stop as authorities were so impressed with the work that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha personally came to visit the Shehar e Khas on the invitation of Manzoor Wangnoo and Dr Touseef Bhat, another noted environmental activist. On the eve of World Environment Day this year ( June 5th 2024) Manoj Sinha visited Sazgaripora area which was the first ever visit of J&K’s Governor in this area of downtown Srinagar.

As a follow up to my earlier articles on mission Ehsaas, I was compelled to write another piece titled“ Mission Ehsaas has not Concluded” (13.07.2024). Manzoor Wangnoo, a Srinagar based businessman who also heads Kashmir Welfare Trust is actually known for his philanthropy work by large sections of society, but his climate action work on ground zero is also getting recognised now at local and national level.

 Rejuvenation of Springs 

The Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO), had already taken up initiative to restore and rejuvenate the dilapidated springs in different areas of Kashmir valley some years back but that got a boost after successful completion of Mission Ehsaas and launching its phase IV by LG Manoj Sinha this year on June 5th.

The NLCO took up spring restoration works in Srinagar’s Shaher e Khaas this year with great success. For information of readers there were dozens of old springs in Srinagar’s old city around Zadibal, Hawal, Nowshera and other areas until 30 years back. Most of them have either been encroached upon or destroyed, and those that are still not completely destroyed, are on a verge of death. Mission Ehsaas-IV is actually meant to restore and rejuvenate these half dead springs that have been choked.

A spring in Gasiyar Mohallah, Kralpora Zadibal was used by the locals for centuries. But for the last 20 years this was dead and with the efforts of team NLCO the spring is back into life again. Another old spring which is located on land belonging to Kashmiri pandit family just opposite Gasiyar mohalla around Sazgaripora was also dead. In fact Govt had spent some money to restore it a few years back but that was a futile exercise and spring was not restored at all. When the team NLCO took up the initiative, the change was quite visible. In addition to restoration of major water bodies like Gilsar and Khushal Sar, NLCO has restored and revived around 10 springs in Ganderbal, Kangan, and Srinagar’s old city.

Public Participation 

NLCO’s initiative to clean up lakes and springs is like a case study for different Govt, Non Govt and research institutions working on water and waterbodies. These initiatives are not only about reviving the natural water sources but we see a community engagement and public participation as well which is more important. If a group of committed volunteers like Manzoor Wangnoo, his brothers Lateef Wangnoo, Riyaz Wangoo, Haji Farooq , Ajaz Ahmad, Azhar Baba and other members of NLCO can restore and revive almost dead lakes and springs with meagre resources, why can’t our Govt institutions do this with hefty budget? The springs located near streams and rivers like Rambiara, Sasra, Doodh Ganga, Shali Ganga, Sukhnag etc., in Shopian, Pulwama and Budgam are almost dead due to illegal riverbed mining and reviving them is a hectic job. But at least Govt can take steps to save those springs which are alive and need little restoration.

Conclusion 

NLCO has done what it could do. Now it is the duty of Lakes Conservation Management Authority- LCMA to augment the work of team NLCO in Srinagar. Gilsar Khushal Sar lakes are under its control and LCMA must further carry on the restoration work so that traditional navigation routes from these water bodies are restored and we see tourists visiting these lakes again. In addition to it I would suggest VC LCMA to take up Spring Restoration work as well in Srinagar and work in close coordination with NLCO. These are our natural treasures and sources of clean and fresh water which we must preserve for the generations to come.

 Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow. He is Founder / Chairman Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement