Ibni Maqbool
Srinagar: In a significant move aimed at restoring pristine glory of water bodies in Kashmir, the administration of J&K has set the deadline for removal of encroachments of the wetlands in the Valley.
Documents accessed by The Precious Kashmir reveal that the divisional administration has directed the authorities to pull up socks and get these encroachments removed urgently.
According to minutes of the meeting chaired by divisional commissioner Kashmir P.K. Pole on October 18, the deputy commissioners and different bodies responsible for maintenance of water bodies were directed to take urgent steps to remove encroachments of the wetlands.
As per the record note, the Wular Conservation and Management Authority(WUCMA) and deputy commissioner Baramulla were directed that the encroachment of 380 kanals and 11 marlas of land of the water body shall be removed by or before November 30, 2021.
The WUCMA- the body responsible for maintenance of Wular lake- was also directed to submit a comprehensive action plan about the water body for its submission to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
In the meeting, the divisional commissioner Kashmir also directed deputy commissioner Baramulla to remove encroachments on the water body by November 30, except 56 residential houses/ structures.
The wetland spread over 7. 25 square kilometres is home to many migratory birds.
The divisional administration also directed deputy commissioner Srinagar to retrieve 160 kanals of Shalabugh wetland which have been encroached.
Every year thousands of migratory birds from different countries come and stay in the water-body spread over thousands of kanals.
According to minutes of the meeting, the divisional administration directed authorities of Pulwama district to retrieve 79 kanals of land of Chatlam wetland within two weeks.
It is worthwhile to mention that the National Green Tribunal has passed directions from time to time for restoration of water bodies.
