Shafat Ahmed Reshi
World is witnessing one more wetland day on 2nd Feb. This International Wetland Day has been reduced just to be a symbolic day especially in this part of the world. Wetlands which act like kidneys in a human body are shrinking now not only on daily but on hourly basis which means at a very high rate. We have become insensitive towards water bodies in general and to our wetlands in particular.
Our planners have miserably failed in their planning while drafting zonal plans, micro plans, masterplans and even regional plans as far as environmental and ecological aspects and issues are concerned.
One fails to understand why people in general and Government administration in particular have become so insensitive towards a vital issue of environment and ecology especially water bodies. All waste whether solid, semi solid and liquid, or hazards or non-hazards, biodegradable or non-biode gradable is finally directed to water bodies only. Do not we know or understand that once the water bodies get choked, it means no water for survival of human life, animal life, plant life. The present water crises are the outcome of this particular action by one and all. Do not we know that the economy of this particular state is tourism dependent and tourism is directly dependent on environment. So are not we deliberately killing the economy of this state by killing environment on daily basis? Have we left any waterbody in our state without pollution be it at country side or within urban areas? All our water bodies such as Dal lake, Walur lake, Mansar lake, An Charlake, Khushhall sar, Gill sar, Mansbal lake, Sanasar lake or canals like Pahalgam canal, Doodh Ganga canal, Suk Nag canal, Ranbir canal are polluted and near extinction due to polythene. Ban on polythene from 15th of January 2018 is now an another joke played by administration and judiciary with the health of people and place.
Encroachment of water bodies especially wetlands is another example of human greed. There are many other causes.
Lack of required efficient sewerage drainage system in our cities and towns and disposal of untreated sewerage water to rivers, canals, lakes and other water bodies/wetlands has eaten up our wetlands and water bodies.
Encroachment of wetlands, lakes and water bodies by land grabbers under political pressure and due to slumber of administration has rendered our water bodies as marshy lands. Construction of residential and commercial buildings is going on after filling of such wetlands. This all goes unchecked under the very nose of administration.
Lack of check dams too reduce the capacities of water bodies due to depositing of silt and other runoff materials from streams and canals into water bodies especially lakes and wet lands.
Government policies formulated without proper technical know-how and bad town planning is the major cause of vanishing of wetlands and other water bodies. To conserve Dal lake Government proposed shifting of dal dwellers to another water body namely Rakharth which actually is a known wetland are by filling it with earth and proposed a housing colony on it without application of mind and undermining the uses benefits and necessities of a wetland. Filling of Rakharth has disturbed the eco-system of whole of the area including Shalbug wetlands, Hokarsar wetlands, which is natural habitat of local as well as migratory birds. These birds migrate directly from Siberia, Russia, North Pole. The roll of migratory birds has become thin come down during past few years.
Modernisation is a must but not at the cost of environment. High tension wires through our wet lands besides construction of high power communication high rise towers has taken toll of birds both local as well as migratory. Planners are also equally responsible for such unwanted development which is telling upon our environment, ecology and health.
Improper and unscientific disposal of tons of garbage which is transported and deposited near and within wetlands and other water bodies are directly responsible of deterioration of our Ecosystem. Now mostly polythene and other plastic substances form major portion of our daily refuse.
Polythene, plastic bags and other related plastic substances which are used now-a-days in every field of business is great thread to our environment and ecosystem. All channels, canals, rivers, low lying areas, open fields, lakes, water bodies, including wet lands are full of this known bio degradable plastic material which has penetrated in every walk of life.
Some factories and brick kilns near our wet lands which exhaust poisonous gases, smoke and fumes consume lot of bird life and this activity increases during winter months when temperature is sub-zero and our wet lands are full of migratory birds.
Better late than never can be taken as a base line and start afresh at all levels to conserve our water bodies including wet landsby taking all majors of saving environment which is need of the our and to save future generations from hazards diseases and disorders. Pollution control board and directorate of environment and remote sensing has great role to play as key stake holders and torch barriers. General public need to be made aware about environment degradation hazards. Government need to take up this issue on priority before it’s too late and point of no return.Let us pledge to conserve our wetlands and other water bodies today on auspicious International Wetlands Day.
(The author is a town planner)
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