SRINAGAR: The Wildlife Warden Wetland Division Kashmir Srinagar today refuted the news item titled ‘Wetland presents an eerie image of dry landscape: EPG’ published by a local daily newspaper about Shallabugh Wetland Reserve.
In a statement issued here, it was informed that the e-Tender for Plugging of breaches and all Habitat improvement works at Shallabugh Wetland Reserve have been floated/invited by this Division multiple times and due to the fact of poor response, and the successful e-tenders/works stand allotted and are presently under progress.
The consolidation of 5 KM Ring bund has been completed which was mandatory for increasing the water holding capacity and retention of optimum water level within the Shallabugh Wetland Reserve, the statement read.
It was also given out that the creation of water pools within the wetland area is imperative to attract the migratory birds and due to such interventions made by this Division after a long time, Shallabugh Wetland witnessed the arrival of 3 to 4 lakh migratory birds during the previous winter season, which speaks volumes about the hard work made and cannot be termed a mimic.
The water retention process shall be started after the execution of all Habitat improvement works is completed and the water level within the Shallabugh Wetland area shall be retained to its optimum level, read the statement.
It was also informed that the survey of identified critically silted areas within the Shallabugh Wetland Reserve has been taken up by this Division and the identified plots shall be put to e-Auction shortly with the definite aim and purpose of increasing the water holding capacity of Shallabugh Wetland Reserve exponentially.
Further, it may be noted that during the fall season, the water table is always at its lowest ebb all over the Valley especially during the current season due to a shortfall in the downpour most of the feeding channels do not carry the required quantity of water.
