Jammu: The CAG has expressed serious concerns about the large-scale encroachment of over 2,500 kanals and ecological degradation of Hokersar Lake, warning that the wetland is facing rapid deterioration, and its “pristine glory” is at risk of extinction.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pulled up authorities for the failure of conservation and management of Hokersar lake, warning that the ecologically significant wetland is facing degradation due to pollution, encroachment and lack of scientific planning.
The CAG report on conservation of lakes in the Union territory for the year 2023-24, said the lack of proper survey and demarcation has led to the encroachment.
“Around 2,528.10 kanals of lake area has been encroached upon for construction, plantations and agricultural activities. Despite issuance of notices, authorities were unable to ensure eviction of encroachers,” it said.
The report noted that in the absence of a comprehensive conservation and management programme, significant changes in land use have occurred, resulting in deterioration of the lake’s health.
The CAG observed that the failure to identify point and non-point sources of pollution, absence of measures to prevent silt inflow, lack of dredging and construction of a flood spill channel through the lake area contributed to a decline in open water area.
Highlighting land-use changes between 2014 and 2020, the report recorded a seven per cent decrease in open water area, while scrub area (transitional habitat along the shoreline) increased by over 1,100 per cent and aquatic vegetation by 42 per cent, largely attributed to anthropogenic pressures and inflow of untreated sewage.
“Between 2014 and 2020, the open water area decreased by seven per cent, while scrub area increased by 1,157 per cent, siltation by 104 per cent, river area by 103 per cent, built-up area by 102 per cent and aquatic vegetation by 42 per cent”, it added, attributing it again to anthropogenic pressure, as well as inadequate conservation efforts.
The CAG observed that no comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan had been prepared for the lake. “Instead, the Wildlife Protection Department relied on annual plans which failed to address core issues such as changes in hydrological regimes, pollution and loss of biodiversity,” it said.
Analysis of satellite imagery and Google Earth Pro data from 2005 to 2022 revealed a substantial increase in built-up areas in the lake’s catchments, including Haji Bagh, Soibug and HMT (Zainakot), which lack sewage treatment facilities. “The lake continues to receive inflows from these areas, aggravating pollution levels,” the report said.
It also highlighted inefficiencies in flood management infrastructure. “The flood spill channel at Padshahi Bagh, designed to carry 17,000 cusecs of water, has seen its capacity reduced to 6,000 cusecs due to siltation and accumulation of debris.”
While Rs 46.29 crore was spent between 2018 and 2022 on channel construction, dredging and slope protection, key components such as hydraulic gates, silt retention basins and sewage treatment plants were not executed, affecting water regulation and quality.
Responding to the audit, the forest department said a policy to maintain the ecological character of wetlands was under consideration and efforts were underway to remove unwanted vegetation and retrieve built-up areas.
Research studies cited in the report also indicated disappearance of native aquatic species and invasion of non-native plants, along with declining dissolved oxygen levels due to nutrient loading, it said.
The CAG, meanwhile, has recommended urgent identification and treatment of pollution sources, scientific dredging to restore open water area and comprehensive survey and demarcation to prevent further encroachments and reclaim the affected 2,528.10 kanals of lake area.
The audit pointed out deficiencies in key conservation activities such as de-weeding and dredging. “Expenditure on these works lacked scientific basis, with no vegetation mapping, bathymetric surveys or impact assessments conducted,” the CAG report said.
It also flagged gaps in flood management works under the Comprehensive Flood Management Programme, noting that critical components such as hydraulic gates, silt retention basins and sewage treatment plants were not executed, affecting regulation of water flow and quality.
Recommending urgent corrective measures, the audit called for identification and treatment of pollution sources, scientific dredging to restore open water area and comprehensive survey and demarcation to prevent further encroachment.
It also stressed the need for a holistic conservation plan addressing hydrology, biodiversity and pollution to safeguard the wetland’s ecological balance and livelihood value.
The Hokersar lake is located in Srinagar and Budgam districts and is fed by the Doodhganga stream in the east and Sukhnag Nallah in the west.
The lake was notified in July 1945 and later declared a Conservation Reserve under the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978.
