CCIK seeks accountability over Brari Nambal landfilling

Chamber demands complete removal of filling, action against violators and probe into monitoring failures

SRINAGAR, September 15: The Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir (CCIK) has expressed serious concern over the alleged landfilling and encroachment of Brari Nambal, calling for complete removal of the filling, restoration of the waterbody and action against those responsible.

The chamber stressed that partial demolition of structures or filling cannot be allowed to become an “eye wash”, arguing that accountability must also be fixed for the original damage and any failure of monitoring that allowed the activity to continue.

According to CCIK, the landfilling had allegedly continued for nearly 15 days, raising questions over who brought the material, who carried out the filling and how the activity continued without timely intervention by the concerned authorities.

“The people responsible must be identified, the entire filling removed and the waterbody restored at the earliest,” CCIK said, calling for a proper investigation into the alleged violations.

The chamber further demanded that wherever offences are established, legal action and prosecution should follow. It also called for an examination of any monitoring failures that may have contributed to the continuation of the alleged damage.

“Partially demolishing what was built after allowing the damage to happen is not enough. We need accountability for the original act as well as for any failure of monitoring,” CCIK said.

Calls for protection of water bodies

Emphasising the need to protect Kashmir’s remaining water bodies for future generations, the chamber said that children deserve to inherit clean lakes, wetlands and water bodies rather than filled-up land and concrete.

“We need to keep something for our generation. Our children deserve to inherit clean lakes, wetlands and water bodies, not filled-up land and concrete,” it said.

CCIK stressed that protecting water bodies, enforcing existing laws and holding violators accountable require political will, administrative seriousness and responsible citizenship.

Appeals to LG, chief minister and authorities

The chamber urged the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir to take cognisance of the matter.

It also called upon the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Srinagar administration to ensure that Brari Nambal is fully restored and those responsible for the alleged violations are held accountable.

The chamber reiterated that restoration efforts must go beyond partial demolition and address the alleged encroachment, environmental damage and institutional lapses that allowed the activity to continue.