SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Two lakes and a wetland in Jammu and Kashmir are reeling under invasive species proliferation and pollution threats-thus making a room for hazard for these water-bodies and swampland. Wetlands of India Portal of Ministry of Environment, forest and climate change of Government of India has said that there are two lakes and a wetland in Jammu and Kashmir that have been listed under the threat category.
The data revealed that Hokarsar is reeling under the threats of encroachment, invasive species proliferation, pollution and siltation.
Potential threats include recent housing facilities, littered garbage, and demand for increasing tourist facilities. Hokarsar wetland is only 10 Km away from Srinagar and is the only site with remaining reed-beds of Kashmir and a pathway of 68 waterfowl species like Large Egret, Great Crested Grebe, Little Cormorant, Common Shelduck, Tufted Duck and endangered White-eyed Pochard, coming from Siberia, China, Central Asia, and Northern Europe. As per officials, “In Hokarsar, as of now, there is no threat of encroachment. The area of the wetland is the same.
But, as far as the pollution and siltation is concerned, it took place during the 2014 flood. We are looking into the matter of invasive species proliferation, which needs a detailed study.” Similarly, Wular Lake has also been listed in the threat category wherein the threats like encroachment, hydrological regime alteration, pollution and siltation has been mentioned.