Srinagar: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has welcomed the recent statement of Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha calling for a crackdown on encroachments along water bodies, which have worsened flooding in the Union Territory. At the same time, the group has urged the administration to ensure accountability, time-bound action, and protection of fragile wetlands that play a critical role in absorbing floodwaters and sustaining aquatic ecology in Kashmir.
EPG Convenor, Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, while appreciating the Lieutenant Governor’s initiative, asked tough questions on the persistence of such encroachments. “How did these encroachments come up in the first place? Under whose supervision were they allowed to grow unchecked? And will those responsible be held accountable?” he asked.
Citing data obtained through an RTI filed by activist M.M. Shuja, the group said wetlands such as Hokersar, Haigham, Shallabugh, Mirgund, as well as Aanchar, Dal and Nigeen Lakes, have lost tens of hundreds of kanals to illegal encroachments. The case of Aanchar Lake was described as “most baffling,” where thousands of kanals have not only been encroached but sold as plots and even mutated into revenue records as proprietary land. A 25-foot-wide road running deep into the lake now facilitates these illegal sales.
The group also criticised the mismanagement of Hokersar Wetland, where Rs 47 crore was spent on gated hydraulic structures to correct a dredging error, but authorities failed to maintain required water levels due to alleged external interference. Similar issues were highlighted at Haigham Wetland, where embankments are cut by encroachers to drain water, reducing the wetland’s ecological capacity.
According to EPG, illegal construction and encroachments within the LCMA jurisdiction of Dal, Nigeen, Khimber, and Chattergam continue unchecked, often backed by powerful individuals. The group also raised concerns about the degradation of rivers, nallahs, karewas, and illegal mining that collectively threaten Kashmir’s ecology.
While welcoming the LG’s call for a people’s movement, EPG stressed the need for time-bound, transparent, and accountable action. “Wetlands and water bodies are the lungs of Kashmir’s environment. Their encroachment is not just an environmental concern but a loss for future generations,” Bakshi said.
The group concluded that restoring encroached wetlands, punishing encroachers and negligent officials, and creating sustained public awareness are vital to preventing future disasters. “The LG’s statement is a positive first step, but only decisive action and accountability will ensure our water bodies are preserved for generations to come,” EPG added.
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