Bandipora, May 1: Congress MLA from Bandipora, Nizamuddin Bhat, on Thursday described Wular Lake as a “symbol of Jannat-e-Benazir,” asserting that the lake is intrinsically linked to the existence, identity, and rights of the local population.
Speaking on the side-lines of a function on the lake’s banks, Bhat said major water bodies including Dal Lake and Manasbal Lake are not only ecological assets but also lifelines for livelihoods across the region.
He urged the government to prioritise preservation of these water bodies through a multi-pronged approach involving tourism promotion, environmental protection, and sustainable development. “The government should take it as a priority by promoting tourism, saving the environment, expanding water bodies, and protecting them from destruction,” he said.
While acknowledging that previous governments had taken certain initiatives, Bhat said a lack of public awareness and community responsibility has hindered progress. “People living around these water bodies also have a responsibility,” he added.
Highlighting key challenges, the legislator pointed to the activities of sand mafia, discharge of untreated sewage into water channels, and increasing encroachments. “We do not find any effective way to save it. Ultimately, it is also our responsibility as a society,” he remarked.
Recalling a ₹360-crore conservation project initiated in 2008 during the tenure of former Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Bhat said that although ₹160 crore was released and an authority constituted, the desired outcomes remain largely unachieved.
“You can see that embankments have not been properly repaired, water levels have not improved, and encroachments continue. We have not been able to stop infilling either. This is also our collective failure,” he said.
The MLA also flagged issues related to the stalled Tulbul Navigation Project under the Indus Waters Treaty, incomplete dredging works, beautification of the Jhelum River, mismanagement of tributaries, and lack of segregation between fishing and nadru (lotus stem) cultivation zones.
Calling for urgent intervention, Bhat stressed the need for serious appraisal and swift action. “Leaving everything to natural processes without proper human intervention is not the right approach. The government must step in with a clear and effective plan,” he said.
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