Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Sept 6: In a bid to remove the encroachments around various Wetland Conservation Reserves in Kashmir, the authorities have chalked out a plan under which the encroachments as well the land occupations posing a major challenge to the conservation of wetlands will be cleared.
In this regard, in Hygam Wetland in North Kashmir’s Baramulla, where around 56 houses and over 90 other structures have been identified will be removed. The removal of these encroachments will be carried out by the Department of Wildlife along with the District Administration, Police, Forest Protection Force and local community.
Also, it has been planned that the necessary notices under relevant laws will be served to each encroacher near the wetland and will be directed to evict the state land on their own which shall be done within the stipulated time, failing which the department will act in accordance with the law.
As per officials, the plan of removing the encroachments as well as the land occupations has also been mentioned in the Action Plan that the Government has formulated for the effective conservation of the wetland across Kashmir Valley.
In Hokersar, Hygam and Mirgund wetlands, officials said, a large portion of the land has been temporarily occupied and is being used for paddy cultivation by people. As per the plan, the said land will be rendered unfit for next season by the demolition of marginal and intersectional embankments.
By doing that, the officials said, the area will not only be rendered inaccessible but will also turn out to be unfit for paddy cultivation, thus helping in preventing further encroachments of the land.
Further, in Hokersar, Hygam, Shallabugh and Mirgund wetlands identified portions under private plantations will also be cleared after issuing notices to each private plantation unit holder otherwise action under rules shall be initiated.
The officials said that heavy silt deposition has resulted in silting up of the marginal lands of the wetland and these silted patches of the wetland are seasonally brought under paddy cultivation by the local population.
While the concerned department does not recognise the practice, it has already registered many cases under Wildlife Protection Act against the accused of seasonal occupation of these portions in the wetlands.
As per officials, currently, many locals have been claiming private proprietary rights over some portions of the land in the wetlands and to ascertain the same, the district collectors, Tehsildars from Revenue Department, Wildlife Warden Wetland Division, Forest Demarcation and Photo interpretation Divisions jointly started demarcation exercises in the wetlands and the details have already been submitted in this regard.
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