Jammu and Kashmir Establishes Wullar Lake Development Authority

After nearly two years of inordinate delay the Jammu and Kashmir Government has finally constituted the Wullar Development Authority (WDA) to restore the pristine glory of Asia’s largest freshwater lake – Wullar – in north Kashmir.

Officials said the formation of the WDA will streamline implementation of the ambitious Wullar Conservation Project. The formation of the WDA has been facing inordinate delay since 2010 in absence of approval by the State Cabinet, drawing flak from the environmentalists.

Though the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah kick-started the Wullar Conservation Project on December 7 last year, however the delay in formation of the WDA took a heavy toll on the Wullar which is confronted with extensive siltation, encroachments and pollution.

“The Cabinet has accorded sanction to formation of the WDA and Government today issued formal orders regarding it. The WDA will start its working on priority at the earliest” Mian Altaf, Minister of Forests and Environment told Greater Kashmir.

The WDA will be headed by Minister of Forests and Environment while Members of Legislative Assembly from Bandipora, Sopore and Sonawari constituencies, Planning Commissioner, Principal Secretaries Finance and Planning, Secretary Public Health Engineering Department will be its members. Secretary Forest will be member secretary of the WDA.

“The Government has incorporated all those officers and legislators who are directly connected with the Wullar Conservation Project to expedite lake’s restoration. The WDA will be able to take decisions regarding procuring machines, utilizing services of experts and undertake all others works aimed at conservation of Wullar,” Altaf said while acknowledging damage to Wullar in absence of sustained conservation measures over the years.

Till a few decades ago, Wullar acted as a huge absorption basin for the annual floodwaters, maintaining a balance in the hydrographic system of the Valley. The lake with its associated wetlands was an important habitat for migratory water birds within Central Asian Flyway and supported rich biodiversity.

Due to massive encroachments and siltation, Wullar has been reduced from 273 sq kms to less than 70 sq kms. Official figures state that nearly 70,000 kanals of converted land of Wullar have been occupied illegally, including by various government departments. The problem is compounded by continuous influx of silt from nearby catchments which has turned a large chunk of the water body into a land mass.

Owing to its rich bio-diversity and capacity to host the avian visitors, Wullar has been included under the Ramsar Convention making its conservation mandatory for the State and the Central Governments.

Environmentalists have welcomed formation of the WDA and stressed for speedy restoration of the lake.

“WDA should not confine itself to the paper work only. Absence of sustained conservation measures has already affected flora and fauna of the Wullar. The WDA must on priority identify the works, set deadlines for their competition and execute them strictly to save the lake’s from further deterioration,” said Aijaz Rasool a noted hydraulic engineer.

Aijaz who is also a member of the Committee of Experts on Wullar, Tso-Morari and Mansar-Surinsar lakes under the Prime Minister’s reconstruction plan of Jammu and Kashmir, recommended dredging in Wullar in winter and undertaking simultaneous conservation activities including soil erosion control and integrate grassland management.

The State Government has already prepared a detailed protect report for Rs 386 crore for conservation of the lake.

The plan envisages the lake’s water and land resources management, bio-diversity conservation, livelihood improvement and institutional development. The plan also emphasized on eco-tourism as a potential tool to conserve the lake and its rich bio-diversity while providing economic incentives to the local community.

The Central Government under 13th Finance Commission has sanctioned Rs. 120 crore for conservation of Wullar. Altaf said that since launching of the Wullar Conservation Plan in December last year, the Forest Department has conducted demarcation of Wullar and undertaken some conservation works.

“Government is committed to restore Wullar to its pristine glory. We need support of the people particularly the stakeholders in this endeavor,’ Altaf added.

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Source: greaterkashmir, September 24, 2012