Srinagar is steadily losing what makes it liveable. The city and its once-green outskirts, characterised by fertile agricultural fields, open spaces, wetlands and picturesque landscapes, are undergoing a disturbing transformation. What was once a harmonious blend of nature and habitation is increasingly giving way to concrete structures, commercial establishments, roads and unplanned urban expansion.
The rapid disappearance of agricultural land, proliferation of construction on the outskirts, and reported filling and encroachment of water bodies raise serious questions about the enforcement of land-use regulations, the effectiveness of urban planning and the responsibility of authorities entrusted with protecting the city’s natural heritage.
The issue goes beyond changing landscapes or the loss of visual beauty. It concerns Srinagar’s environment, water bodies, agricultural economy and the quality of life of generations to come. A city that allows its fertile fields, wetlands and water bodies to disappear beneath concrete is undermining the ecological foundations on which its future depends.
Agricultural land and green outskirts disappearing
The outskirts of Srinagar, once distinguished by extensive stretches of green agricultural land and open countryside, are rapidly being transformed by construction. Fields that supported agricultural activity and contributed to regional food production are increasingly giving way to residential buildings, commercial complexes and other structures.
Development is inevitable in a growing city. Population expansion creates legitimate demands for housing, commercial facilities, roads and public infrastructure. But development cannot mean that every agricultural field becomes a potential construction site or that land-use restrictions are treated as obstacles to be bypassed.
Where agricultural land is converted for non-agricultural purposes, have the necessary permissions been obtained? Are construction activities consistent with approved plans and applicable laws? Have revenue records and land-use classifications been examined?
These questions are not opposition to progress. They go to the heart of lawful administration and responsible urban planning.
Agricultural land is a valuable and often irreplaceable resource. Once fertile fields are covered by permanent structures, restoring them to cultivation becomes extremely difficult. Their indiscriminate conversion also affects agricultural livelihoods, local food production and the traditional landscape surrounding Srinagar. The loss is economic, environmental and social.
Land interests and the question of accountability
The scale of construction also raises concerns about the possible role of organised land interests in accelerating agricultural land conversion and unplanned settlement expansion.
Where land is acquired, subdivided, marketed or developed in violation of applicable regulations, the authorities must investigate whether unlawful activity has taken place. Allegations of land-mafia involvement deserve particular attention wherever evidence suggests systematic violations, exploitation of regulatory loopholes or disregard for land-use restrictions.
The concern is not to condemn every landowner or developer. Legitimate housing and commercial development have their place. The question is whether powerful commercial interests are operating beyond effective regulation at the expense of agricultural land, public resources and the environment.
How are extensive changes in land use escaping timely scrutiny? Are inspections adequate? Are complaints investigated promptly? If construction proceeds without mandatory approvals, why is action not taken before substantial structures come up?
These questions deserve answers based on records, inspections and transparent investigations rather than assurances alone. Where official complicity or negligence is established, accountability must follow in accordance with the law.
Brari Nambal and Dal Lake: Protecting vulnerable water bodies
The concerns surrounding Srinagar’s disappearing green spaces cannot be separated from the condition of its water bodies and wetlands.
Brari Nambal is an important part of this wider environmental concern. Water bodies are not vacant land awaiting development. They perform essential ecological functions, support natural drainage and contribute to environmental balance.
Concerns regarding the filling, reclamation and alleged encroachment of areas associated with Brari Nambal call for urgent and impartial examination. Physical inspections, historical maps, revenue records and official documentation should establish whether any unauthorised alteration or occupation has occurred, who was responsible and what action is warranted.
The public deserves clarity about the water body’s present status, the extent of any verified changes and the measures being taken to prevent further damage.
Dal Lake, meanwhile, is far more than a tourist attraction. It is an ecological asset closely connected with Srinagar’s identity, economy, environment and cultural heritage. Concerns about encroachment, reclamation, pollution and pressure from human activity demand sustained attention.
The relevant authorities must establish the lake’s legally recognised boundaries, assess changes through historical maps, satellite imagery and field inspections, and distinguish lawful activities from unauthorised alterations. Where violations are established, appropriate action must follow, including restoration wherever legally and technically feasible.
The protection of these water bodies cannot be reduced to periodic declarations or temporary enforcement drives. It requires consistent monitoring, coordinated administration and the will to enforce the law impartially.
The consequences of unplanned urbanisation
Agricultural fields, open spaces and wetlands contribute to environmental balance in different ways. Their loss, combined with increasing construction and pressure on infrastructure, can aggravate urban challenges.
Unplanned development places additional demands on roads, drainage systems, electricity supplies, water distribution and waste management. Where infrastructure fails to keep pace, congestion, inadequate civic services and deteriorating living conditions can follow.
Changes to natural drainage and the filling of wetlands or waterlogged areas can also increase the risk of localised flooding and water accumulation, depending on the location and nature of the alteration. The cumulative effect of individual land conversions can transform the wider urban landscape and place pressure on Srinagar as a whole.
The city must not follow a model in which construction proceeds first and its consequences are addressed afterwards. Responsible planning requires environmental and infrastructure pressures to be assessed before permissions are granted or development is permitted.
Where are the planning and enforcement mechanisms?
The administration needs a coordinated review involving the departments responsible for revenue administration, urban planning, building permissions, environmental protection and water-body management.
Such a review should identify agricultural land converted for non-agricultural use, establish whether the conversions were lawful, and examine construction that may violate applicable regulations. The status of Brari Nambal, Dal Lake and other vulnerable water bodies should also be reviewed wherever concerns about filling, reclamation or encroachment have been raised.
Publishing relevant findings, subject to legal requirements, would help identify enforcement gaps and restore public confidence. Regular monitoring, timely inspections, accessible complaint mechanisms and prompt action against unauthorised construction are essential to preventing further damage.
Responsibility must be fixed wherever investigations establish that officials knowingly permitted violations or neglected their duties despite sufficient grounds to intervene. Enforcement must be evidence-based, fair and consistent, without exemptions for influential individuals or commercial interests.
Development must respect nature
There is no contradiction between urban development and environmental protection. Srinagar needs housing, better roads, improved infrastructure and opportunities for economic growth. But it also needs agricultural land, functioning wetlands, protected water bodies, open spaces and a properly planned urban environment.
Progress cannot be measured solely by the number of buildings erected, roads constructed or commercial establishments opened. It must also be judged by the quality of life the city offers, the sustainability of its growth and the natural resources it preserves.
The administration must undertake a transparent, comprehensive review of agricultural land conversion around Srinagar and reported filling and encroachment affecting Brari Nambal, Dal Lake and other vulnerable water bodies. The exercise must establish the facts, verify the legality of activities, identify regulatory failures and recommend corrective measures.
Citizens, too, have a legitimate interest in protecting the city’s natural assets. Their concerns about agricultural land, unauthorised construction and damage to water bodies should not be dismissed as resistance to development.
Srinagar’s natural landscape is part of its inheritance. Its agricultural fields, wetlands and lakes sustain livelihoods, contribute to ecological balance and preserve the distinctive character of the city.
The question is no longer simply how Srinagar should grow, but whether it can grow without destroying the natural assets that make it worth living in.
The administration must act before the remaining agricultural land and open spaces are swallowed by unplanned construction, and before further degradation of Brari Nambal, Dal Lake and other water bodies becomes irreversible.
Future generations have the right to inherit a Srinagar that is not merely larger and more built-up, but healthier, greener and environmentally secure.
Development is necessary. The destruction of Srinagar’s natural heritage is not.
The author is a columnist. He can be reached at ahmadayaz08@gmail.com.
