Srinagar, Sep 30: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has welcomed Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s call for a crackdown on encroachments along water bodies in the Union Territory — a major factor behind the devastating floods witnessed recently in J&K. However, the group stressed that only decisive, systematic action and strict accountability can save Kashmir’s fragile wetlands, which are vital to flood control and ecological balance.
EPG Convenor Faiz Bakshi, while appreciating the LG’s statement, raised serious questions about the origins and unchecked growth of such encroachments. “How did these encroachments come up in the first place? Under whose watch were they allowed to grow unchecked? And will those responsible ever be held accountable?” he asked.
According to data obtained through an RTI filed by activist M.M. Shuja, vast areas of wetlands like Hokersar, Haigham, Shallabugh, and Mirgund — as well as Aanchar, Dal, and Nigeen lakes — have been illegally occupied. The case of Aanchar Lake is particularly shocking, with thousands of kanals encroached upon, carved into plots, sold, and even recorded as proprietary land. A 25-foot-wide road has been constructed deep into the lake to facilitate these illegal sales.
The mismanagement extends beyond encroachment. At Hokersar, inlet and outlet hydraulic gated structures costing ₹47 crore were built to correct the damage caused by deep dredging, which had drained the wetland dry for over three years. Yet, according to EPG, the Wildlife Department still fails to maintain the required water level due to “hidden interference,” undermining the entire project.
At Haigham Wetland, embankments are frequently cut by encroachers to drain water and shrink its spread. Illegal constructions, overnight road building, and land grabs within the LCMA jurisdiction — including Dal, Nigeen, Khimber, and Chattergam — are often carried out by influential individuals, with enforcement agencies turning a blind eye.
EPG also flagged wider ecological concerns such as illegal mining, river vandalisation, and karewa degradation, all of which compound the damage to J&K’s water bodies.
While welcoming the LG’s appeal for a public movement to safeguard water bodies, Bakshi insisted that only time-bound, transparent, and accountable action can reverse the damage. “Wetlands are the lungs of Kashmir’s environment. Their encroachment is not just an ecological disaster but a loss for future generations,” he said.
The group concluded by urging immediate restoration of encroached wetlands, strict action against violators and complicit officials, and robust public awareness campaigns. “The LG’s statement is a positive first step, but without decisive action and accountability, our precious water bodies will continue to vanish — and with them, our ecological security,” EPG warned.