Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 9: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Rattan Singh and others seeking demolition or removal of the encroachments on the water bodies /wetland reserves and other reserves within the State, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat has directed the Forest Department to file status report regarding restoration of water bodies as on today.
In the PIL, petitioner has submitted that State of J&K battles one of worst floods in decades and environmentalists have blamed encroachment of the wetlands in the State especially in the valley as the main reason for the devastation of life and property.
“Notwithstanding the fact that wetlands play an important role in preventing ecological catastrophe, majority of the marsh lands are not receiving any attention in J&K resulting into their continues shrinking and making the State more prone to the disasters like the one in September 2014 which caused massive devastation”, the petitioner submitted, adding “the height of the insensitivity towards this vital aspect can be gauged from the fact that no particular department has so far been assigned the task of conversion and preservation of these wetlands”.
As per the NWIA total area of the State of J&K is about 2,22,236 Sq. Kms and about 3651 wetlands having area of 391501 hectares exist in J&K. Some of the wetlands like Surinsar-Mansar, Hokersar, Wular and Tsomoriri have been included in the list of wetlands of international importance under Ramsar Convention. Three wetlands Suriansar-Mansar, Wular and Sobrari have been included in the Prime Minister’s Construction Package but their area is decreasing day by day due to the encroachment and other allied factors.
After hearing Senior Advocate M K Bhardwaj with Advocate Karan Sharma appearing for the PIL, DB directed Forest Department to file status report regarding restoration of the water body as on today.
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