Kashmir Valley neglected its wetlands that would have been like a sponge during floods

Mumbai: Environmentalists at the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) feel that the recent tragedy in Kashmir Valley is being increasingly looked at as a man-made disaster, aggravated by reckless “developmental” activities with no regard for nature conservation.

Studies by the BNHS-India in the Kashmir Valley over the years reveal that there has been a severe loss of wetland habitat to make way for various commercial activities. The BNHS is now urging the government to enact a Wetland (Conservation) Act, on the pattern of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, not just in J&K but across India.

It is obvious from field studies that there has been a massive loss of wetlands in the Kashmir valley over the years. For instance, the famed Dal Lake in Srinagar has seen numerous reclamations all along its periphery in the marshy areas. This has drastically reduced the lake area to just about 1,200 hectares, which is almost half its earlier spread. The vast expanse of Wular Lake and associated marshes — an Important Bird Area (IBA) — is another case in point. Once spread across 20,200 hectares, it now remains restricted to a mere 2,400 hectares. In the last 30 years, nearly 50 percent of the wetlands in the Kashmir Valley have been encroached upon or severely damaged.

Commenting on the recent floods, Dr Asad Rahmani, Director, BNHS, said, “The disastrous damage caused to life and property could have been minimised if the large number of wetlands that once existed in the Valley had been preserved. Wetlands act as a sponge that retains excess water.” He adds that even the British and former maharajas of Kashmir considered Wular as a buffer for the floods, where surplus water was absorbed.

Encroachment

Wrong policies on the part of successive governments in the state have contributed to the wetland loss. For example, encroachment upon the shallow portions of the wetland by the forest department for plantation of Willow trees has significantly reduced the size of Wular Lake over the years.

Kashmir Valley has one narrow opening towards the west for the water from the catchment areas to get drained down the Jhelum River. The Valley is encircled by high mountains. In the past, during the reign of the maharajas, a well-functioning water drainage system that was synchronous with the natural topography of the region was in place and even the myriad lakes and wetlands remained well-preserved. Considering the importance of wetlands, it is imperative that they are protected through an Act, said Rahmani.

Protection of wetlands will not only help in flood control but will also help in recharging the ground water levels across the country and ensure better food security by way of increased water availability.

Although the Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority exists at present, Rahmani says it has proved to be ineffective in saving India’s wetlands and added that it is also important not to classify wetlands as wastelands.