Srinagar, Nov 21: The Mirgund Wetland, once a vibrant 4-square-kilometer bird sanctuary near Srinagar, has been reduced to a parched, barren landscape, revealing a disturbing narrative of environmental neglect and mismanagement.
The Environmental Policy Group (EPG), led by Convener Faiz Baskhi, conducted a detailed investigation revealing the wetland’s catastrophic transformation. Once fed by the Sukhnag Nallah and Jhelum Flood Spill Channel, the wetland now stands devoid of water, wildlife, and its former ecological richness.
Systematic encroachment has further compounded the wetland’s destruction. Local farmers have begun cultivating sections of the dried landscape, while land mafias have marked plots and initiated earthfilling, potentially for unauthorized construction.
The Wildlife Department’s response has been painfully slow, with boundary reclamation efforts taking over 15 years of legal battles. Infrastructure commissioned in 2005, including a two-room shed, now lies in complete disrepair—a stark symbol of administrative apathy.
Critical water management failures emerge as a primary cause of the wetland’s deterioration. A closed MS iron gate at the Sukhnag Nallah’s offtake point in Rakh Kawoosa village prevents water restoration, despite the potential for immediate intervention.
The EPG has demanded a high-level inquiry and plans to pursue legal recourse. They intend to escalate the matter to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, emphasizing the urgent need to open the Sukhnag Nallah gate and implement strict anti-encroachment measures.
“The state of Mirgund Wetland is a heartbreaking testament to mismanagement,” said Faiz Bakshi. “While climate change contributes to drought conditions, the complete apathy of responsible authorities is inexcusable.”
The wetland’s decline represents more than local environmental degradation—it symbolizes a broader failure in ecological preservation and responsible environmental stewardship.
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