Firdous Hassan
Srinagar: Wetlands in Jammu and Kashmir have shrunk by 120 hectares in the last 10 years.
A latest study by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has revealed that the area of wetlands has been reduced to 1,64,110 hectares.
Titled `Envistats India 2022’, Jammu and Kashmir had 403 wetlands covering an area of 1,64,230 hectares in 2017-18.
According to the study, the area covered the area has now been reduced to 1,64,110 hectares.
Excessive habitat destruction, pollution, and massive human intervention are the main causes of reducing the area.
“Wetlands provide habitat and refuge for biodiversity and help build the resilience of species to protect them from population decline. Wetlands and their biodiversity are getting depleted due to habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation of aquatic resources, tourism, and the introduction of invasive exotic species along with alien pathogens and parasites. It is important that the value of wetland ecosystems in helping to halt and reverse biodiversity decline is recognized more widely,” it said.
The study also listed the number of wetlands that have been added to Ramsar sites and need conservation for their revival.
It includes Surinsar-Mansar Lakes which has an area of 350 hectares followed by Wular Lake (18,900 hectares), Hygam Wetland Conservation Reserve(802 hectares), Shallbugh Wetland Conservation Reserve (1,675 hectares), and Hokersar Wetland(1,375 hectares).
“Wetlands play an important role in replenishing our hydrological cycle of the area. We have witnessed from the revenue records that these wetlands have been encroached upon amid heavy siltation. Only those wetlands which are in high altitude areas are right now in their original shape,” said Ajaz Rasool Environmentalist and Hydraulic Engineering expert.
The administration has recently disclosed that around 640 kanals of land around Wular Lake, which is the largest flood basin in the valley, have been encroached upon in the Bandipora. district.
Pertinently, Jammu and Kashmir government has rolled out an Integrated Management Action Plan to restore the pristine glory of wetlands in the valley.
A budget of Rs 46.70 crore has been earmarked for the project will be completed in five years. As per the action plan, Rs 18.93 crore will be spent on water management, which is critical to wetland rejuvenation. Likewise, Rs 13.15 crore will be spent on biodiversity conservation.
According to the plan, Rs 7.49 crore has been apportioned for Education Awareness and Eco-Tourism, besides, Rs 0.80 crore for Sustainable Resource Development and Livelihood Development. Similarly, Rs 6.33 crore will be spent on Institutional Development.
