Srinagar, Nov 9: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought a fresh and updated report from the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) on the condition of wetlands in the region, flagging the absence of crucial information about their actual existing area.
According to ANI, the tribunal observed that while the JKPCC had furnished details of the area of wetlands as recorded in revenue records, it had failed to provide their actual area on the ground.
The tribunal directed the committee to obtain the missing information and submit a comparative assessment of the recorded and existing areas of each wetland.
The directions came while the green tribunal was hearing a matter concerning the protection of wetlands in Kashmir, including a case taken up suo motu over reports of shrinking and disappearing lakes and wetlands in Jammu and Kashmir.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with Expert Members A Senthil Vel and Afroz Ahmad, directed the JKPCC to file the fresh report at least a day before the next hearing, scheduled for February 26, 2027.
The tribunal noted that the JKPCC had submitted a report on October 1, 2026, identifying 27 wetlands measuring more than one hectare and located outside forest areas. However, the report was incomplete, with information from some districts still awaited.
The committee informed the tribunal that details from the Deputy Commissioners of Jammu and Kupwara were pending and that an updated report would be submitted after receiving the information.
The report also highlighted concerns over water quality in several wetlands.
In Jammu, none of the three samples tested met the Class B primary water quality criteria for outdoor bathing. In Samba, only two of the nine samples met the prescribed standards, while the sample collected from Kathua complied with the criteria.
In Kashmir, four of the six wetlands tested in Kupwara failed to meet the Class B standards, mainly on account of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). The Rakhi Duslipora wetland in Baramulla also failed to meet the prescribed standards for BOD and dissolved oxygen.
The JKPCC had also sought details of individuals, agencies and departments responsible for violations of environmental norms in wetlands where water quality failed to meet prescribed standards, with a view to initiating corrective and punitive action.
The report further stated that the Rakh-i-Daslipora wetland was not found to exist at the site, while proprietary land in the area was being used for paddy cultivation.
Meanwhile, domestic effluent was identified as a source of pollution in the Mawasar wetland in Samba.
