[Reader-list] Fwd: Kashmir floods a man-made disaster, need Wetland Conservation Act: BNHS

[Nagraj Adve]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vivek Sundara. <viveksundara at gmail.com>
Date: 17 September 2014 12:48
Subject: Kashmir floods a man-made disaster, need Wetland Conservation Act:
BNHS
To:


 Kashmir floods a man-made disaster, need Wetland Conservation Act: BNHS
  Wednesday, 17 September 2014 - 5:20am IST | Agency: DNA

   -

   DNA Correspondent <http://www.dnaindia.com/authors/dna-correspondent>


   -  A view of partially submerged J&K high court and Civil Secretariat in
   Srinagar on Tuesday  *PTI*

 Demanding for the Wetland Conservation Act, Bombay Natural History Society
(BNHS) on Tuesday said that the flood in Kashmir is nothing but a man-made
disaster. Dal Lake has shrunk to half its size and Wular Lake
<http://www.dnaindia.com/topic/wular-lake> is just 10%, as compared to what
it once was - 20,200 hectares.

*What could have been done to avoid the damage?*
Dr Asad Rahmani, director of BNHS said, "This can be termed as an
ecological disaster. The disastrous damage caused to life and property
could have been minimized if the large number of wetlands
<http://www.dnaindia.com/topic/wetlands> that once existed in the Kashmir
valley <http://www.dnaindia.com/topic/kashmir-valley> had been preserved.
Wetlands act as a sponge that retains excess water. Wular Lake is a
classical example."

*What have the ramifications been?*
As per the field studies done by BNHS over the years, there has been huge
loss of wetlands in Kashmir. The Dal Lake in Srinagar, which is a popular
tourist destination, has witnessed serious reclamations all along its
periphery in the marshy areas. This in turn, reduced the lake size to just
about 1,200 hectares - almost half of its earlier spread.

*What is the level of deterioration at Wular?*
The vast expanse of Wular Lake and associated marshes - an Important Bird
Area (an area recognized as being a globally important habitat for the
conservation of bird populations) - has also seen similar destruction.
Wular Lake was once spread across 20,200 hectares, it now remains
restricted to a mere 2,400 hectares.

*How have the wetlands in Kashmir been destroyed?*
Kashmir valley has one narrow opening towards the west for the water from
the catchment areas to get drained down the Jhelum River. From all other
sides, it is encircled by high mountains.
Over the last 30 years, nearly 50% of the wetlands in the Kashmir valley
have been encroached upon or severely damaged beyond restoration due to
reckless developmental activities with no regard for nature conservation.
The construction there is mainly due to commercial activities.

*What has the BNHS recommended?*
According to Dr Rahmani, even the British and former maharajas of Kashmir
used to consider Wular Lake as a buffer for the floods
<http://www.dnaindia.com/topic/floods>, where excess water can get
absorbed. As per BNHS, the excessive damage done to the marshes of the
Kashmir valley is a strong indication to immediately come up with a Wetland
(Conservation) Act along similar lines as the Forest (Conservation) Act,
1980.

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