Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 23: Though declared as a wetland of International importance under Ramsar convention in 2005 as Hokera Wetland, the Hokersar water body is squeezing day by day due to rapid encroachments by land grabbers posing a grave threat to the ecology as well as flora and fauna of the region.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Situated at 10 kms away from Capital city of Srinagar in Kashmir valley, this wetland also falls under India’s National Wetland Conservation Programme and is also included in the network of important bird areas. The Hokersar Wetland was first designated as a Conservation Reserve under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act 1978.
However, this world famous wetland is facing various threats including encroachments with Government not taking appropriate measures to protect this important bird sanctuary which has been a grave concern of the environmentalists and local inhabitants for whom this wetland was a source of livelihood.
As per sources, the Hokersar Wetland which was spread over 18.75 kms in 1969 has been reduced to 13 kms in 2008 and since then further encroachment has been made by the land grabbers posing a grave threat to flora and fauna as well as the ecology. Over the years many areas of the wetland have been converted to paddy cultivation. Moreover discharge of domestic waste into the wetland through the inlet streams has resulted into excessive weed growth and eutrophication both of which pose threat to flora, sources added.
Sources said illegal mining coupled with depletion of water from wetland has also been a cause of worry for the environmentalists. As per norms the wetland should have at least five feet deep water which is being depleted by the farmers for irrigating their land posing a threat to the birds being fed on it.
Sources said despite the intervention of court of law no proper demarcation of this water body has been made to identify the encroached land.
Sources said the main cause of concerned department’s failure to act against the encroachers is growing political interference. With growing political influence the concerned Government agency is unable to act against the land encroachers, sources added.
They said in last 40 years, about 40 percent of the land of this world famous wetland has been encroached but land grabbers are getting political patronage and no one dares to touch them.
Fiaz Bakshi, convener Environment Policy Group said that delegation of people concerned for protection of environment have also called on Chief Minister and brought this grave issue in his notice. He too has shown concern and assured appropriate measures to save the water bodies in Kashmir.
He said not only the Hokersar but other water bodies in Kashmir are under grave threat from land grabbers, mining mafia etc. They include Highgam Wetland and Mirgund Water body besides the famous Wular Lake. He said hundreds of Kanals of Highgam wetland have been encroached by people after constructing the houses on the same. The water has depleted from there as there is no control gate, he added.
Maintaining that these wetlands were created by nature to retain ecological balance being reserves for local and migratory birds, he said the local people have the right of fishing, extracting lotus sticks, lotus as well as its fruit in the form of nut to earn their livelihood. The Hokersar alone was feeding a population of 80, 000 people and with its encroachment and threat from human beings these people have lost their livelihood, he added.
He said while J&K tops in unemployment these water bodies could provide a natural source for skill development but no one at the helm of affairs takes pains in preserving them so that the local people who were for centuries’ together dependent for their livelihood on them could get job avenues.
He questioned the Government why the Wetland Management Plan has not been submitted to Centre for last three years.
He said failure of the Government in protecting wetlands and ecology is posing a grave threat to humanity.
Interference in wetlands will cause a grave disaster as global warming threat is already looming large. The ecological disturbances are causing havoc and recently there was three feet water in river Jhelum near Zero Bridge Srinagar with people crossing the river by foot which should not be taken lightly as it is an alarm of future destruction in case immediate steps are not taken to protect the environment and save water bodies. Moreover, protection and preservation to wetlands will result into influx of tourism and also lead to research on the different species of birds, he said.
However Tawheed Ahmed Deva, Regional Wildlife Warden Kashmir said that the Department has demarcated the land of Horkersar Wetland to ensure that no encroachments should take place. Besides, all steps are taken for protection of local as well as migratory birds and gates of inlet and out have been constructed in Horkersar to maintain water level. He said during last Winter 13 lakh migratory birds were in this water body.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
