Revenue deptt delays transfer of land for Gharana wetland

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Nov 21: Delay by Revenue department to demarcate the Gharana wetland has slowed down the proposal of Wildlife Department to convert it into major tourist attraction and safeguard the habitat for the migratory birds.

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.

The wetland known as bird watcher paradise supports a population of 20000to 25000birds of different species during every winter with the most of the species being migratory, endangered or covered under different schedules of the Act. The bird which visit the reserve include Siberian hans, Keel, Grey Heron and Little Grebe from New Zealand, Australia and America.

Located close to Indo-Pak border in Jammu district Gharana Wetland facing treats of losing its existence as the concern department failed to take initiatives for the maintenance of the said wetland.

Wildlife expert and environmentalists has expressed their concern over the decline in the number of birds turning up at the wetland and officials blamed it partly on encroachment by locals. As the encroachment in the wetland has reduced the size of the wetland to less than half its official size.

Besides this due to poor maintenance of the wetland the water in the pond get full of mud in the water and water plants growing in it which reduced its size besides level of water get decreased.

Official source said that there is lack of coordination between the higher authorities and low rank employees of the department due to which the wetland has been suffered.

When contacted to Wildlife Warden Jammu, Tahir Shawl the department jointly with Revenue Department is doing efforts to save and protect the Gharana Wetland.

Shawl further said that there is total notified land under this wetland is 1600 kanals, but we have asked the revenue department to give the possession of the land and if any person of the locality having his own land in the area of wetland he will be compensated by the department.

He maintained that the department also engaged World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for the management plan of the said wetland and hopefully they will take 5 to 6 months more to complete their work.

Whereas Sub District Magistrate (SDM), RS Pura S P Rukwal also refused to comment on this issue.