Srinagar, Jul 31: The Centre has clarified that reports suggesting hundreds of lakes and wetlands in Jammu and Kashmir have disappeared are based on preliminary satellite imagery and should not be construed as conclusive evidence, informing Parliament that a comprehensive reassessment has revised the J&K’s inventory to 1793 wetlands and water bodies.
The clarification came in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister for Jal Shakti C R Patil, amid concerns over shrinking and vanishing lakes across the country and references to an earlier Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report which had stated that 518 out of 697 lakes in J&K had either disappeared or reduced in size.
Responding to the concerns, the Ministry said the CAG observations were derived from an inventory prepared by the Department of Environment and Remote Sensing, Jammu and Kashmir, using LISS-III satellite imagery with an approximate spatial resolution of 23 metres.
Such datasets, it said, provide only preliminary technical information for researchers and administrators and cannot, by themselves, establish permanent disappearance, shrinkage, encroachment or unlawful conversion of wetlands.
The ministry said remote sensing imagery reflects changes in water spread or land cover but must be corroborated with land records, cadastral maps, notified wetland boundaries, field inspections and official records before any definitive conclusion can be drawn regarding the status of a wetland.
It informed the Parliament that the J&K government subsequently undertook a comprehensive revision and expansion of the wetland inventory using very high-resolution satellite imagery, grid-based analysis, jurisdictional refinement and extensive field verification.
The exercise resulted in an updated inventory of 1793 wetlands and water bodies, replacing the earlier database relied upon in the audit observations.
According to the revised inventory, 1499 wetlands are below one hectare or classified as additional wetland-like features, while 294 wetlands exceeding one hectare have been identified across J&K.
Of the larger wetlands, 113 fall within forest areas, 54 inside protected areas, three under the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) and Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), while 124 are located outside forest jurisdictions.
The ministry reiterated that water is a State subject, and that the protection, conservation, and management of wetlands are primarily the responsibility of state governments and Union Territory administrations.
The Centre, it said, supplements these efforts through policy support, financial assistance and centrally sponsored programmes.
It also highlighted the First Census of Water Bodies conducted across 33 states and Union Territories to create a national database containing details on the size, condition, storage capacity, encroachment status and utilisation of water bodies.
Listing the major initiatives taken by the Centre, the ministry said the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 prohibit encroachment, conversion of wetlands for non-wetland uses, dumping of solid waste, discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents, and permanent construction within notified wetlands.
It said that all states and Union Territories have constituted Wetland Authorities to oversee conservation and management.
The ministry said that under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA), the Centre has provided approximately Rs 1170 crore as its share for conservation and restoration of around 172 wetlands across the country. The programme supports wastewater treatment, shoreline protection, desiltation, stormwater management, catchment treatment, biodiversity conservation, bio-fencing, weed control and community participation.
Other national initiatives highlighted in the reply include implementation of the Ramsar Convention, the Save Wetlands Campaign, Mission Sahbhagita, the Amrit Dharohar initiative, and the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari programme aimed at improving groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting through community participation.
For J&K specifically, the government said the UT has established a Wetland Authority chaired by the Chief Secretary and district-level wetland management units to coordinate conservation efforts. Management of Wular Lake, Dal and Nigeen lakes, and Manasbal Lake is being carried out through dedicated authorities, while ecologically important wetlands such as Hokersar, Haigam, Shallabugh, Surinsar-Mansar, and Gharana are protected by the Wildlife Protection Department.
The Centre said that conservation measures in J&K include periodic wetland mapping and monitoring using remote sensing backed by field verification, preparation of site-specific management plans, selective desiltation and de-weeding, restoration of natural streams, anti-encroachment drives, scientific solid waste disposal, maintenance of ecological water levels and annual biodiversity and waterbird population assessments to preserve the ecological integrity of wetlands.
