SRINAGAR, Aug 31: The Environmental Policy Group (EPG) has sought the intervention of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over a video circulating on social media that allegedly shows filling or reclamation of a portion of Dal Lake near the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) office at Miskeen Bagh.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, the EPG urged the authorities to verify the video and establish the exact location and nature of the activity shown. EPG Convenor Faiz Ahmad Bakshi said the matter warranted prompt examination in view of the ecological importance and sensitivity of Dal Lake.
Bakshi said that if the activity depicted in the video involved filling of a water body, reclamation of lake area, dumping of material, alteration of a water channel or unauthorised encroachment, it could raise serious environmental and regulatory concerns.
The EPG has called for a joint spot inspection by LCMA and other concerned departments to ascertain whether any portion of Dal Lake or its adjoining water area has been filled, reclaimed, encroached upon or otherwise altered.
It has also urged the authorities to verify the ownership, land classification, revenue status and permissible land use of the area shown in the video.
The organisation said the issue should not be viewed in isolation and called for greater protection of water bodies and natural drainage systems across Jammu and Kashmir. It pointed out that the region has an interconnected network of lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams, springs, nallahs and flood channels, including Wular Lake, Anchar Lake, Nigeen Lake, Manasbal Lake, Khushal Sar, Gilsar and Hokersar, besides the River Jhelum and its tributaries.
“These water bodies are not vacant land available for gradual reclamation,” the EPG said, stressing their role in water storage, flow regulation, biodiversity, groundwater recharge and flood protection.
The group also referred to Government of India documentation concerning encroachment pressures on the lacustrine systems of the Kashmir Valley and observations in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the conservation and management of Dal Lake. It said the report had highlighted issues including blocked nallahs, construction affecting drainage, dumping of construction material and shrinkage of drainage channels.
The EPG has proposed a comprehensive review of major lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams, springs, nallahs, flood channels and natural drainage systems across J&K to identify instances of encroachment, filling, reclamation and obstruction.
It further suggested GIS- and satellite-based mapping of major water bodies and their buffer areas, followed by physical verification. Continuous monitoring through satellite imagery, drone surveys, GIS mapping and periodic field inspections was also recommended.
The organisation urged the government to ensure that any filling, reclamation, construction or alteration affecting the natural extent or drainage characteristics of a water body undergoes appropriate environmental, hydrological and technical scrutiny.
The EPG also called for greater transparency in encroachment cases, including making information regarding identified encroachments and action taken by authorities publicly accessible.
Describing J&K’s water bodies as part of its natural capital, the group urged the Chief Minister to direct the concerned authorities to examine the video, conduct an on-ground verification and take appropriate action if any violation is established.