Alarming: J&K loses 57% of wetland area in a decade

By: Sajid Raina

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed a drastic decline in its wetland area over the past decade, with the total wetland cover reducing from 3,91,501 hectares in 2011 to just 1,64,110 hectares in 2021, according to government data.

This marks a loss of over 57% of J&K’s wetlands in ten years, raising concerns over unchecked encroachments and environmental degradation.

In contrast, Ladakh’s wetlands have been mapped separately for the first time, with a recorded total wetland area of 3,73,049 hectares as of 2021. The data provides a baseline for wetland conservation efforts in the Union Territory.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in response to a query in the Lok Sabha stated that wetland conservation in the country is being implemented under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA).

However, despite policy measures such as the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017, and the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, J&K’s wetlands have continued to shrink at an alarming rate.

Many experts attribute the large-scale wetland loss in J&K to encroachment, unregulated urban expansion, pollution, and climate change.

Many of the region’s famous wetlands, including Hokersar, Wular, and Dal Lake, have been severely impacted by human activities and shrinking water levels.

The loss of wetlands poses a major threat to biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and flood control, especially in a region heavily dependent on natural water bodies for agriculture and livelihoods.

Conservationists urged authorities to take immediate and stringent action to prevent further encroachment and degradation.

The government also maintains that wetland conservation efforts are ongoing through policies like the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) and the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rules, 2017. However, challenges such as encroachments, pollution, and climate change persist, hindering effective restoration.

Mandeep Kar, an environmentalist, who has been working on environmental projects in Kashmir for three years, said that strict enforcement of wetland protection laws, removal of illegal encroachments, and large-scale restoration efforts are crucial. Without these steps, we risk losing these vital water bodies forever, he said.

“We must restore these wetlands through desilting, controlling sewage discharge, and promoting community-led conservation. Any delay will only worsen water scarcity and accelerate ecological collapse,” he added. —(KNO)