Question

what is encroachment of water bodies

Answer 1

Water bodies and wetlands, usually crucial to the ecology of any region, are fast shrinking in our State owing firstly to blatant encroachment and secondly to carelessness about proper management of water bodies, rain water etc. A PIL is pending before the Division Bench of the High Court in which the petitioner has demanded immediate vacation of illegal encroachment of water bodies leading to damage to ecology and environment. In this connection the Court had asked the Government to ensure that illegal encroachment is vacated and water bodies are restored to their pristine purity.
The State authorities have failed to comply with the orders of the court. It has taken no step in the direction of vacating encroachments. There seems political intervention or selfish aggrandizement in not complying with the orders of the court. Water bodies and wetlands, particularly the well known wetlands of Gharana in Jammu and Hokarsar in Kashmir have been excellent bird sanctuaries since long years. The Siberian birds usually spend the winter months in these two wetlands both of which have been under severe pressure of encroachment and logging up of water channels. Of late it has been observed that the number of birds visiting these traditional sanctuaries is decreasing   because of paucity of feed,