Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Forest, Ecology and Environment, Dheeraj Gupta said that Wular Lake is a societal asset and we all have a responsibility towards its protection, preservation and conservation. He made these remarks while inaugurating a multi-stakeholders workshop for management of Wular lake at Banquet Hall here.
The workshop is being organised by Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) in association with Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC)- German Development Cooperation (GIZ) Technical Cooperation project ‘Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection’.
The workshop aims to facilitate discussions on ongoing management actions, their effectiveness and jointly identify future priorities and strategies for integrated management of Wular Lake. In his keynote address, ACS said that we all should feel our responsibility towards the nation and the people and prove true saviours of the Wular lake.
He said that stern efforts were required and we as a society have to rise to the occasion to work for its protection, preservation and conservation. Gupta said that the government has embarked on a transformative journey to restore and revitalize the Wular Lake with special focus on the ecotourism and livelihood of the local communities.
He urged upon the need for a thorough analysis of past efforts and emphasised for improved inter-departmental collaboration to ensure cohesive and coordinated efforts across various governmental and non-governmental organizations. He further said that tourism in Kashmir has experienced a significant surge over the past four years, leading to an increased interest in the region's natural and cultural attractions.
In response to this growth, the WUCMA is actively developing a comprehensive zonal master plan for ecotourism around Wular to develop it as a symbol of tourism in Kashmir valley. He said that this master plan is designed to integrate sustainable practices that maintain the ecological balance of the lake and its surrounding areas, while simultaneously fostering the livelihood of the local communities.
Dheeraj Gupta further said that the workshop will produce actionable points for the management and conservation of Wular that will provide a clear and comprehensive roadmap, outlining specific timelines with milestones and measurable indicators. This roadmap will guide the future efforts of WUCMA aiming at enhanced coordination among stakeholders towards achieving a sustainable and thriving ecosystem around Wular Lake.
Earlier, Chief Executive Director WUCMA, T. Rabi Kumar, while welcoming the participants highlighted various ongoing conservation activities. He said that around 5 Sq.km of the critically silted area of the lake has been dredged out which has significantly enhanced water flow and improved the overall water regime, leading to habitat restoration and attracting an array of avian visitors annually, making the lake a crucial stopover along migratory routes.
He added that continuous monitoring and improved waste management have significantly maintained the water quality of the lake. The multi-stakeholder workshop is essentially a platform for integrating diverse perspectives of the stakeholders and developing comprehensive strategies for the sustainable management of Wular, he added.
Dr. Ritesh Kumar, Director WISA in his speech highlighted the impact of the activities taken up by WUCMA and laid down a broad outline for the future management. The MoEF&CC-GIZ Technical Cooperation Project ‘Wetlands Management for Biodiversity and Climate Protection’ is being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir jointly with Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), J&K Wetland Authority and J&K Forest Department (DEERS), with technical support of Wetlands International South Asia (WISA).
In this workshop, representatives from the District Administration of Bandipora and Baramulla, departments like RDD, PHE, Tourism, Fisheries, Agriculture, Horticulture, Wildlife Protection and Forests participated. Local NGOs, researchers from institutions like the University of Kashmir, Wildlife Institute of India, SKUAST- K, National Institute of Hydrology and community members from the fishermen community around Wular Lake also participated.