Wetlands facing threat of extinction, Govt. showing its helplessness

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, June 19: At the time when all the wetlands of the state in degradation stage government has failed to take necessary steps to save them.

There are total of 16 Wetlands in the state managing by the wild life department but somehow with the one reason or the others these wetlands are losing their existence from the state.

According to the sources the government under the State Plan Scheme Wetland Reserves has sanction an amount of Rs 35 lacs of some of the wetlands of the state included Tsomoriri and Pangong in Ladakh, Surinsar-Mansar and Gharana in Jammu  and Hosersar, Mirgund, Hygam and Shallabugh Lake in Srinagar.

Officials further said that but for the management of these wetlands this fund is very meager, keeping in view problems and management interventions requirement to manage these wetlands.

“The department which resources is managing the wetlands through various activities like construction of buds to regulate water-level, de-weeding, maintenance of water pool and water channels, anti-poaching and anti-grazing with awareness and publicity programmes” they said.

Sources further said that that the concern department has also initiated various steps for the restoration and further development of these wetlands.

Sources discloses that for the project work of Tsomoriri and Surinsar-Mansar Wetlands the Ministry of Environment and Forest has also approved Rs 4.20 and Rs 3 crore in year 2008-09 but nothing has been done so far.

Talking to TNI Wildlife Warden Headquarter Gulam Ahmed Lone said that out of 35 lakh only 24 lakhs has been provided to Tsomoriri Wetland of Ladakh.

“For the rest of Wetlands the funds are still due from the higher authorities” said Lone.

The biggest example of plight of wetlands in the Gharana wetland which is facing the threat of extinction.

Contrary to the 1500-kanal notified land, it is 115 kanals which have been demarcated in revenue records, despite wetland reserve already been updated as Conservation Reserve through a notification issued in 1986.

It is pertinent to mention here that the encroachment in the wetland has reduced the size of the area to about 500 square meters, less than half of its official size.