SRINAGAR: The Hygam Wetland, a Ramsar-designated ecological site located in the Baramulla district of north Kashmir, is facing an alarming environmental crisis as it has regrettably turned into a garbage dump.
The absence of a garbage-lift facility and inadequate government action have forced residents living on state land adjacent to the wetland to dispose of their waste in the wetland, an act driven by necessity rather than choice.
Local inhabitants expressed deep concern and frustration over the situation, stating that they have never seen any garbage-lift facility from the Rural Development Department.
The wetland’s ecological balance is under severe threat due to widespread pollution from solid waste such as plastics, glass bottles and domestic refuse dumped by the local population.
The concerned Block Development Officer (BDO) conveyed concerns about the lack of proper waste-management infrastructure, stating that they currently have no direct facility and are in discussions with the Municipal Council Baramulla to devise a solution for waste disposal.
Meanwhile, the primary guardian of the wetland is the Wildlife Department, which is expected to oversee its protection, the Sopore BDO, Nazima, said.
The Wildlife Range Officer, Iqbal Wani of Hygam Wetland, when contacted, stated that they do not allow anyone to throw waste and degrade the site. “We actively create awareness among people to prevent pollution and conduct clean-up operations wherever necessary,” Wani said.
He said that so far no resident has been seen throwing the waste in the wetland, and any violations in this regard will be met with strict penalties, including arrest.
The Ranger noted that the Ramsar site is currently not fully fenced, but once a proper boundary is established, it will effectively prevent waste disposal inside the wetland. The department is making efforts to ensure the wetland remains protected from degradation, the official added. (KNO)
