ACR order to prevent encroachment of wetlands faces impediment
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 30: As the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha called for a crackdown on encroachments along water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir, the politico-bureaucratic nexus is creating hurdles in demarcation of two major wetlands on the outskirts of Srinagar.
The demarcation of the twin wetlands of Hokersar and Narkara in district Budgam in the outskirts of Srinagar city was aimed to prevent their encroachments but the politico-bureaucratic nexus has led to halt in the process that was started in March this year.
The demarcation of Hokersar wetland was completed in April this year but that of Narkara is yet to be done. However, after the demarcation of Hokersar wetland, the erection of boundary marks that was ordered by the Assistant Commissioner Revenue Budgam (DCB/SQ/ 2025-26/Demarcation /1426 dated 04-06-2025) and was to be carried out in June this year has not been done.
“Wildlife Warden Wetlands Kashmir Division and Executive Engineer, Flood Spill Channel, Division Narbal are hereby requested to identify/erect the boundary of Hokersar Wetland as per ETS Demarcation/records in presence of constituted team members and the task shall be completed within week’s time:- Mark the boundary wall using suitable markers/posts. Ensure the boundary is clearly defined and visible. Prepare the detailed map of the wetland boundary,” read the order.
An official said that the boundary markers would have prevented the encroachment of the wetland but it was stopped due to unknown reasons. He said that it could have exposed the officials who failed to prevent encroachments of the wetland in the past.
The ACR Budgam earlier this year ordered (No. DCB/SQ/2024-25/ Demarcation/ 598-618 dated 13-03-2025) the demarcation of these wetlands.
“In order to prevent the illegal encroachment of both the wetlands, the team constituted by this office order dated 13-03-2025 shall take demarcation process from the month of April”, read minutes of the meeting held in Deputy Commissioner Budgam office on 15-03-2025.
“A team of (18) …officers/officials is constituted for carrying out demarcation of Hokersar and Nambli-Narkara wetlands. The constituted team shall submit the demarcation report to the office of the undersigned after completion of demarcation,” read the order.
The team included Range Officer Hokersar wetland, Naib Tehsildars of Humhama, Soibugh and Narbal, block officers of Hokersar and Narkara wetlands and Patwaris of Bemina, Dharmuna, Soibugh, Rakhi Aarath, Narkara, Hajibagh, NS Pora, Humhama and Wadwan.
The team visited the Hokersar wetland on April 15 this year and completed the demarcation in two days by using state of art Electronic Total Station machine and it was to be followed by erecting boundary markers.
The ACR Budgam, Afroza Bano told Excelsior that demarcation of Hokersar wetland was done earlier this year and that of Narkara is yet to begin. However, she didn’t divulge the impediments they are facing in the process of erecting boundary markers.
Studies have revealed that Hokersar in the last 50 years has shrunk from 18.13 sq km to 13.42 sq km with its open water body shrunk from 210 hectares to 45 hectares during the period.
Despite being a Ramsar site, the authorities are showing laxity in the demarcation of the wetland that could have prevented its future encroachments.
Narkara wetland was around 3.42 sq. kms but it has shrunk to 2.41 sq. km in the last 50 years. It faces serious threats from land mafia who are protected by the politico-bureaucratic nexus. The land mafia has sold large chunks of land in the area and there have been a lot of constructions of residential houses and commercial complexes in the area.
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