J-K Govt asks Centre to release funds for wetlands management

The Jammu and Kashmir government today stressed the need for the allocation of adequate funds for taking up comprehensive and effective conservation and management of state's wetlands.
Emphasising the importance of wetland conservation, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey called for full funding of the projects submitted by the state government to the Centre for implementation of the Conservation and Management Action Plan of the wetlands, an official spokesman said.
The chief secretary, while chairing a meeting to review the developmental activities of Wular, Mansar and Tso-Morari lakes, underlined the importance of preserving wetlands, terming them vital for maintaining the lifeline and rich and unique bio-diversity, the spokesman said.

Khandey asked the concerned to pursue the matter with the Centre and ensure that funds to the tune of Rs 386 Crore as earlier projected by the state for Wular Conservation and Management are released.
He said Rs 120 crore plan approved by the Centre is not sufficient for carrying out an effective conservation programme.
Chief Executive Officer, Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA), Abdul Razzak informed the meeting that 100 per cent demarcation of Wular Lake has been completed and the lake area has been classified and identified into 109 micro-water sheds out of which 24 have been prioritised for treatment.

Razzak said the dredging work has been carried out in NazNallah and other parts of the lake.
He added that till date Rs 30 crore have been released for water management, catchment conservation, survey, demarcation and institutional development, adding that during 2013-14, an amount of Rs 43 crore is envisaged to be utilised under the total 120 cr approved plan.
The chief secretary also called for massive afforestation of Mansar-Sruinsar catchment area and said steps should be taken to prevent soil erosion and arrest flow of silt into the lake.