Bandipora, Aug 10: Once described as Asia’s largest freshwater lake, Wular is now battling “decades of neglect”, siltation, sewage inflow, encroachment and pollution.
The present condition of the Lake has raised serious concerns over the survival of one of Kashmir’s most important natural flood channels.
Wular Lake is spread across parts of Bandipora and Baramulla districts plays a critical role in regulating floodwaters in Kashmir.
However, unchecked human intervention and the absence of sustained restoration efforts have steadily squeezed the lake and degraded its ecosystem.
The lake, according to locals has been turned into a dumping ground at several places, with open waste disposal sites emerging along its shores.
Sewage and other pollutants entering the water body have further aggravated the situation.
The deterioration has also hit the livelihoods of people dependent on the lake. Chestnut harvesting, once an important economic activity around Wular, has witnessed a decline amid the worsening condition of the freshwater body.
Villages located along the lake’s periphery have also been bearing the brunt of pollution and environmental degradation.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat, said the lake suffered from years of neglect and lack of focused attention.
He said Wular did not receive the attention accorded to other important water bodies, including Dal, Manasbal and Nigeen lakes.
“During Omar Abdullah-led government in 2008, efforts were made to secure a major financial package for Wular’s restoration. Along with then Sonawari MLA Muhammad Akbar Lone, I met the then Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and sought intervention for the lake,” he said.
Bhat said he and then MLA Sonawari Muhammad Akbar Lone met Jai Ram Ramesh in person.
“He asked for a proposal and the J&K government subsequently submitted the same to GoI. A project worth Rs 360 crore was approved, of which Rs 120 crore was released initially,” he said.
Following this, the Wular Development Authority was constituted and the funds were placed at its disposal.
Bhat said that before the constitution of the authority, Wular was being looked after by the Forest and Ecology authorities.
“The lake had subsequently fallen victim to extensive human intervention, including cutting of nursery areas and encroachment of lake land,” he added.
Despite the constitution of the Wular Development Authority and availability of funds, he said, restoration efforts faced several hurdles and subsequent funding was delayed.
The MLA said that during the PDP-BJP government, when he was not an elected representative, WUCMA was established.
He however alleged that the lake continued to face pressure from “land and sand mafia”.
“Wular faced land and sand mafia. Although the lake is demarcated, large portions has been encroached upon,” he added.
He said Wular had historically been a naturally functioning freshwater lake but had been severely affected by “human fiddling”, official apathy, inadequate scientific research and changing circumstances.
“Even in present times, the left-out part of Wular is not being saved,” he added.
Bhat also expressed concern over the lack of progress on the proposed circular road around the lake and alleged that there was inadequate control over sand mining activities in and around the Wular basin.
“We all are taking it up, but when there are no resources, what can bureaucracy do?” he asked.
MLA Bandipora said as many as seven departments, including Environment, Forest and Ecology, Tourism, Mining and Fisheries, were associated with matters concerning Wular.
“Despite seven departments looking after it, Wular has become nobody’s baby,” he said.
He said that the absence of a single authority with absolute responsibility for the lake has compounded the problem.
Wular falls within the constituencies of three MLAs including Bandipora, Sonawari and Sopore. But the lake continues to face mounting ecological pressures.
As already reported by this newspaper, Chief Conservator of Forests Irfan Rasool said that lakefronts, eco-parks and cycling infrastructure were being developed to boost eco-tourism around Asia’s largest freshwater lake.
He said that forest department was reviving restoration efforts that had been delayed for nearly a year and was mobilising dredging machinery to clear silt and waste from the Watlab area.
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