*No separate Wetland Division in Jammu on pattern of Valley
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 11: In a testimony of glaring discrimination with the Jammu region, the Government has maintained blind eye towards the Surinsar-Mansar wetland as meager Rs 30 lakh per year are being spent on its preservation. Moreover, no decision has so far been taken to create separate Wetland Division of the Wildlife Department in Jammu region on the analogy of similar division in Kashmir valley.
According to the official figures, an amount of Rs 1.82 crore has been received for the development of Surinsar-Mansar wetland during the last six years from the Union Ministry of Environment. However, only an amount of Rs 1.38 crore has been spent till date.
“This indicates that an amount of Rs 30 lakh is being spent on the conservation of Surinsar-Mansar wetland, which otherwise is shrinking”, sources said, adding the neglecting attitude is notwithstanding the fact that this wetland even falls in the list of wetlands of international importance of Jammu and Kashmir under Ramsar Convention”.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an inter-governmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and proper use of wetlands and their resources.
“Despite being aware of the fact that Surinsar-Mansar wetland is shrinking fast, no special attention has yet been paid on its conservation and the State Government is not sanctioning sufficient funds for the purpose”, sources further said while disclosing that not only Surinsar-Mansar wetland, the Government is also not laying any focus on other wetlands of the Jammu region.
This can be gauged from the fact that two wetland reserves—one each in Ramgarh and Abdullian sectors have totally vanished while many others have been severely reduced in size. “Unchecked deforestation causing soil erosion and silting, encroachments in and around the water bodies and apathetic attitude and unimaginative policies of the concerned authorities have led to the degradation and shrinking of the area of the wetlands”, sources said quoting the observations of the experts in the field.
“The discriminatory attitude towards the Surinsar-Mansar and other wetlands of the Jammu region can further be judged from the fact that Wildlife Department has not paid any attention towards creating Wetland Division in Jammu region on the analogy of similar division in Kashmir valley”, sources pointed out.
They disclosed that Wetland Division of Wildlife Department in Kashmir valley is getting sufficient funds ranging between Rs 1.50 crore to Rs 2 crore per year from the State Government but no special funds are earmarked for the conservation of wetlands in Jammu region in the absence of separate Wetland Division.
Responding to a question, sources said, “as far as Surinsar-Mansar wetland is concerned, the conservation activities are carried out by utilizing the money being earmarked every year for Mansar wildlife sanctuary, which is also meager”.
“The non-serious attitude towards Surinsar-Mansar, which are the main tourist spots at a stone’s throw distance from the Jammu city, clearly exposes the tall claims about initiating adequate steps to promote these two lakes in a big way”, sources said.
“Moreover, the conservation of wetlands is being ignored despite the fact that they play important role in reducing impacts of floods, attract tourists and birds from different countries”, sources said, adding “during the past many years issue of either creation of separate development authority for the Surinsar-Mansar and other important water bodies of the Jammu or bringing them under the ambit of Lakes and Waterways Development Authority is being raised on the floor of the State Legislature but no serious thought was given by the successive Governments”.
“Even the present Government despite admitting that Surinsar-Mansar wetland is receiving meager funds and both these tourist spots remained under-developed till date, has not initiated any serious step towards undoing the wrongs committed in the past”, sources said.
Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, Deepak Khanna, when contacted said, “I don’t share information with anyone on telephone”, adding “whosoever requires any sort of information shall come to my office”.
However, an officer of the Wildlife Department, on the condition of anonymity, admitted that unless special funds are earmarked the conservation of Surinsar-Mansar and other wetlands of Jammu is not possible.
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