Hygam Wetland: Encroachments, habitat degradation threaten once pristine Ramsar site

10 March 2024

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Srinagar, Mar 9: The once pristine Hygam Wetland, a designated Ramsar Site in the Sopore area of north Kashmir, is now grappling with illegal encroachments and neglect, which has led to its degradation over the past two decades. The lack of conservation efforts has severely impacted its delicate ecosystem, resulting in decreased migratory bird arrivals and pollution.

The Hygam-Wetland, once internationally known as Maharaja Protected Wetland, is now losing its sheen, as illegal encroachment, unabated pollution and lack of conservation measures are taking a heavy toll on its fragile ecosystem, which leads to a decrease in the arrival of migratory birds to the water body.

Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Aijaz Ahmed Dar, a social activist and a member of the Environmental Policy Group (EPG) said the wetland is in a deteriorated condition. “It has been reduced to a big pond as the concerned authorities as well as the successive governments have miserably failed to protect it,” he said.

He said the authorities had earlier identified the encroached land of at least 2,300 kanals and illegally occupied 1200 kanals which have been converted into crop cultivation but are yet to be retrieved.

Dar also questioned the wetland’s fencing, saying it has “no sense at all”. The fencing didn’t follow the demarcation done by the authorities earlier. It has no line and length, he said.

The water siltation of about 15 feet and the diminishing area, which is forcing the migratory birds to find an alternative habitat, speaks to the deteriorated conditions of the wetland, Aijaz said, adding that the wetland’s main source Nallah Khalri, originating from Wagila, too has been encroached.

The diversion of other Nallahs to the source is the major reason for siltation in the wetland area, he said.

Dar said Hygam Wetland has been encroached upon at many places including Haritar, Hygam, Lolipora, Gohul, Goshbug, etc, and scores of structures have come up over the past several years while hundreds of kanals of land were being used by encroachers illegally for cultivating paddy.

The Hygam Wetland is spread over 7.25 kilometres and has around 1,400 hectares of land. The area was once dominated by extensive reed beds and was home to many migratory birds including White Heeled Duck, Shoveller, Red-Crested Pochard, White-Eyed Pochard, Pintail, Mallard, Gadwall, Coot and Graylag.

Tariq Ahmed Rather, a local of Hygam, said the official inability to act in time has encouraged more and more people to grab the land.

The wetland supporting a wide range of biodiversity is shrinking with each passing day and the administration must intervene as soon as possible, he said, adding that though scores of cases are registered against the encroachers, there have not been any concrete attempts so far to evict the land from the encroachers.

“The wetland is an asset and provides a significant livelihood to hundreds of people in and around. It used to yield fish, nadur, water chestnuts and a renowned bird sanctuary; however, it is now devoid of such characteristics, Tariq added.

Till 1987, the wetland used to draw the attention of both foreigners and domestic visitors just to have a glimpse, but the “apparent neglect” by the authorities has led to a situation where there is nothing to witness in this once-thriving and bustling wetland, Rather added.

Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an environmental activist and a member of the Environmental Policy Group (EPG), lamented over the deteriorating situation of the wetland. “Wetlands hold significant importance in the ecosystem, akin to the kidney’s function in a human body, but unfortunately, pollution (solid waste and liquid waste), illegal encroachment, the construction of new structures and the silt deposition have significantly impacted it and its ecological balance,” he said.

Unfortunately, over the last 20-25 years, human encroachment has led to significant change, threatening the ecological balance of this vital ecosystem, Dr Muzaffar said.

“While we are making efforts from our end by filling cases in NGT, the government holds a prime responsibility in preserving it alongside the local populace. The government should take strong notice of the deteriorating conditions of the wetland,” he stressed.

Bilal Ahmed Dar, a cinematographer, lamented, “I used to capture the beauty of the wetland through my lens, but it is disheartening to witness the deteriorating situation here. Now, most of the areas of the wetland are dry or have little water due to pollution.”

Locals, speaking with KNO, urged the administration to take steps towards restoration and development of the wetland. “We hope the government restores the wetland to its former glory,” said a local.

Wildlife Warden, Wetlands, Altaf Hussain, responding to queries, said, “I have recently joined, and at this initial stage, I won’t be able to comprehend it correctly. After comprehensive understanding, I will be able to answer the query.”

It’s worth mentioning that earlier an official from the department listed eight new bird species observed in Kashmir, with Falcated Duck at Hokersar Wetland, while Smew Duck, Horned Grebe, Western Reef-Heron, Long-tailed Duck and Broad-billed Sandpiper at Wular Lake in north Kashmir besides Northern Wheatear at Pahalgam.

In 2022, the government included the Hygam wetland along with Shalbugh on the Ramsar Site list. Ramsar is an inter-governmental treaty conceived in 1971, which helps in the better conservation of wetlands on an international scale.

—(KNO)