The National Green Tribunal’s recent observations on the deteriorating condition of wetlands across Jammu and Kashmir should ring alarm bells in every administrative office and household of the Union Territory. The findings are not just disappointing-they are a stark warning. Out of the 123 wetlands whose water samples were tested across the UT, an overwhelming majority failed to meet even the basic Class-B outdoor bathing water quality standards. Only a handful of water bodies across both divisions passed the parameters for Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolved Oxygen and faecal coliform content. This is nothing short of an ecological emergency.
The reasons behind this decline are neither new nor unknown. Illegal encroachments, unchecked cultivation, solid waste dumping, sewage inflow, sedimentation and complete administrative apathy have together turned these wetlands-once pristine, life-supporting ecosystems-into heavily polluted, shrinking water pools. The Tribunal’s concern is justified, especially because, despite such alarming statistics, the reports submitted to the NGT make no mention of remedial or punitive action against violators. This silence speaks of a systemic collapse in environmental governance.
For centuries, these wetlands served as vital sources of drinking water, irrigation support, flood buffers, biodiversity hotspots and recharge zones for groundwater. Local communities depended on them for daily household use, and hence ensured these commons remained clean and protected. But with the advent of piped tap water, people’s sense of ownership and responsibility has visibly disappeared. Indifference has replaced vigilance, even as awareness about pollution and its consequences has paradoxically increased in the digital age. The younger generation may be better informed, but that awareness is not translating into action on the ground.
The demographic explosion in the last few decades, combined with the surge in tourism activities, has exerted unprecedented pressure on these water bodies. Equally troubling is the near-universal violation of the Supreme Court-mandated 75-metre no-construction buffer zone around lakes and water bodies. Encroachment continues blatantly in many districts despite clear records in old revenue maps and easily available satellite imagery that can pinpoint both historical extents and present-day violations. Yet, local authorities continue to look the other way, often citing procedural delays or lack of manpower-classic excuses masking deeper governance failures.
What makes this crisis even more alarming is that these wetlands are not isolated ecological pockets; they are part of interconnected hydrological systems. Wetlands recharge groundwater, the very groundwater that is pumped, bored and supplied to households across the UT. By allowing these water bodies to degrade, we are poisoning our own future water supplies. Contaminated wetlands today mean contaminated groundwater tomorrow-an environmental chain reaction that could take decades to reverse.
Marine and aquatic life in these wetlands is already showing signs of distress. High BOD levels indicate rampant organic pollution, depriving water of essential oxygen needed for fish and other organisms to survive. Faecal contamination poses direct health risks to nearby populations and wildlife alike. The loss of biodiversity-plants, birds, amphibians, and microorganisms-is not just a scientific concern but a disruption of the delicate natural balance that sustains these ecosystems.
The NGT’s suo motu intervention may well be the last hope for J&K’s wetlands. Fortunately, it is not too late. The Government has to move beyond paperwork and half-hearted assurances. Time-bound action plans must be drawn up, outlining what must be done and-equally important-what must not be done around our wetlands. Strict enforcement of existing laws, clearing of encroachments, and prosecution of violators are indispensable steps. A comprehensive wetland restoration roadmap should include diverting household sewage away from water bodies, building and upgrading STPs, ensuring treated water meets prescribed standards before release, desilting wetlands, restoring their catchment areas, and declaring vulnerable zones as no-activity regions. Regular water quality monitoring should be made public to keep administrations accountable.
Turning a blind eye is no longer an option. Every month of inaction allows these ecosystems to deteriorate further. If the administration continues on its current path of complacency, the damage may soon become irreversible. The NGT has sounded the alarm. The question now is whether the Government will listen-and act.
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