Srinagar: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised serious concerns over large-scale encroachment and ecological degradation of Hokersar wetland, warning that the Valley’s key wetland is rapidly deteriorating and risks losing its “pristine glory.”
In its audit report on conservation of lakes in Jammu and Kashmir for 2023–24, the CAG said over 2,528 kanals of the Hokersar wetland have been encroached upon for construction, plantations and agricultural use. Despite notices issued to violators, authorities failed to evict encroachers, pointing to weak enforcement and poor monitoring.
The report pulled up agencies for the absence of a comprehensive conservation and management plan, noting that reliance on fragmented annual plans failed to address critical issues such as pollution, hydrological changes and biodiversity loss.
Highlighting alarming land-use changes between 2014 and 2020, the audit recorded a 7 per cent decline in open water area, alongside a sharp rise in ecological stress indicators. Scrub area grew by over 1,100 per cent, aquatic vegetation increased by 42 per cent, while siltation, river expansion and built-up areas also saw significant growth. These shifts were attributed to unchecked human activity, inflow of untreated sewage and inadequate conservation measures.
The CAG further noted that authorities failed to identify key sources of pollution or implement measures to prevent silt inflow. Essential interventions such as scientific dredging and restoration of water channels were either inadequate or missing, contributing to the steady shrinkage of the lake’s open water.
Satellite imagery analysis between 2005 and 2022 revealed expanding built-up areas in the lake’s catchments, including Haji Bagh, Soibug and HMT (Zainakot), most of which lack sewage treatment facilities. Wastewater inflows from these areas continue to degrade water quality, the report said.
Flood management infrastructure was also flagged as inefficient. The Padshahi Bagh flood spill channel, originally designed to carry 17,000 cusecs of water, is now operating at a reduced capacity of around 6,000 cusecs due to silt accumulation and debris.
Although Rs 46.29 crore was spent between 2018 and 2022 on works such as channel construction, dredging and slope protection, key components including hydraulic gates, silt retention basins and sewage treatment plants were not executed, limiting the effectiveness of these interventions.
The audit also pointed to a lack of scientific basis in conservation activities like de-weeding and dredging, with no vegetation mapping, bathymetric surveys or impact assessments carried out.
Citing research studies, the report warned of declining dissolved oxygen levels, disappearance of native aquatic species and the spread of invasive plants, all of which threaten the wetland’s ecological balance.
In response, the Forest Department said a policy aimed at preserving the ecological character of wetlands is under consideration, adding that efforts are underway to remove unwanted vegetation and reclaim encroached land.
The CAG has recommended urgent corrective measures, including identification and treatment of pollution sources, scientific dredging to restore open water areas, and comprehensive survey and demarcation to prevent further encroachment and recover lost land.
It also stressed the need for a holistic conservation strategy addressing hydrology, biodiversity and pollution to safeguard the wetland’s ecological and livelihood value.
Located across Srinagar and Budgam districts, Hokersar is fed by the Doodhganga stream and Sukhnag Nallah. Notified in 1945 and later designated a Conservation Reserve, the wetland is a critical habitat for migratory birds and plays a key role in the region’s ecological system.
