River Tawi, the Tuhi of Nilamata Purana, is considered by the people of Jammu region as a sacred river. The tradition in Jammu for centuries together is that people used to take holy dip in its transparent waters and regular puja was done as it was called Surya Putri or the Daughter of Sun God. However, owing to geographical and demographic changes that are always there with the passage of time Tawi has not only changed its course but has become polluted owing to callousness of people. The worst is that because of occasional change in the course of the river, some land of the river bed has fallen dry and the land hungry people or land mafia has grabbed the dry lands. This activity does not only pollute the waters of the river but also causes obstruction to smooth flow of water during rainy season. It has become an issue of controlling the flooded Tawi which is divided into two branches badly Tawi and Nikki Tawi.
A PIL is pending before the High Court highlighting various issues involving the conservation and preservation of river Tawi. In the course of hearing of the case the Court observed that an application was pending before it in which permission of the court was sought for undertaking some constructions at identified places along the banks of the river and also the nature of constructions intending to be raised. The Court has considered the application and come to the conclusion that at least one time permission should be given to the applicant intending to raise specific structures. The Division Bench has observed that permission for construction of mega/major projects, including even some vulnerable spots along the banks of river Tawi/nallahs have been identified needing immediate plugging by constructing flood protection works to save valuable life and property of the public. On the basis of this consideration the DB has given one-time permission for raising structures like protection walls on embankments. However, the DB has specifically said that the permission given for raising some structures are essentially meant to save the private and public property from damages caused by the floods or the changing course of the river. This is one time exception. At the same time the Court has asked the Divisional Commissioner to submit a status report detailing what structures have been raised illegally which will have to be demolished and no compensation will be paid. But the structures that have been raised under genuine permission will be assessed for compensation according to the rules and module prescribed by State authorities.
It is a long time that saving Tawi and maintaining its purity is a subject of debate in the civil society, media and at the court also. The people and the Government both agencies have a responsibility in protecting the river. The people have to understand that polluting the water and obstructing free and smooth flow of flood water is something that does great harm to the society at the end of the day. Bringing awareness to the people is the job of social organizations, NGOs and semi-Government organizations. However, the responsibility of the Government is to seriously take into account the protective measures at various levels say for instance the Flood Control Department which must ensure that measure are taken to protect the villages and properties from flood waters in rainy seasons. The Departments of Tourism and Environment too have an important role to play in not only keeping Tawi clean but also beautifying its banks and laying gardens and amusement parks so that recreational facilities are provided to the citizens of Jammu who do not have good parks available to them. We have not heard what happened to the artificial lake that was proposed to be created in the Tawi and for which survey and preliminary work was also done.
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