Despite being legally designated as protected “green belt” zones, Srinagar continues to witness rampant construction and encroachment. These developments are compromising the city’s environmental balance and eroding its historic urban character.
Illegal constructions have proliferated along lake edges, wetlands, and historic buffer zones—particularly near areas such as Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Garden, and the Dal Lake perimeter
Historic loss: Valuable green corridors around Mughal-era gardens and traditional neighborhoods are being replaced by concrete structures, damaging both heritage and ecology
Authorities such as the Lake Conservation & Management Authority (LCMA) and LAWDA have periodically conducted demolition drives targeting illegal constructions within 200-metre green belt zones However, these operations have failed to create lasting impact, with many offenders resuming construction soon after partial demolitions
LAWDA officials have cited a severe lack of enforcement capacity—reportedly just a five-member team—to manage rampant encroachment.
Allegations of corruption: Residents accuse the authorities of permitting violations by influential individuals through bribes, while weaker property owners are punished as a token gesture.
Srinagar’s green cover has shrunk dramatically. The city now offers merely 2.6 square meters of organized green space per capita—far below the WHO-recommended minimum of 9 square meters Concurrently, air pollution has worsened, linked by health experts to thousands of annual deaths in the region
What's at Stake?
Unchecked construction in ecologically sensitive zones threatens more than aesthetics:
Rising pollution and diminishing air quality.
Loss of historic character and natural resilience.
Increased flood risk due to reduced flood absorption zones.
Erosion of public trust in urban governance.
Srinagar needs strong political will combined with robust regulatory enforcement protocols. Enhancing institutional capacity, ensuring transparent compliance, and restoring protected zones must become a priority to safeguard the city’s environmental and cultural legacy.
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