A wetland spread over an area of 500 acres in South Kashmir’s Marhama area was allowed to be filled by the government illegally costing the state exchequer Rs 1,600 crore. It was filled by some land-grabbers with the government patronage. The wetland had been a major habitat for the migratory birds.
Documents reveal that in the month of August last year three Srinagar residents started filling the submerged land in the village which according the department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing, is wetland/marshy land spread over 500 acres in a linear shape.
The villagers, who are up in the arms against the state government brought the issue to the notice of Deputy Commissioner Anantnag on August 24 in 2013 and demanded immediate halt on land filling process by the alleged land gabbers.
Three persons, whom officials identified as Yesir Reshi, son of Mohmmad Yousf Reshi of Hilalabad Nesabal, Sonawari, Srinagar, Abdul Majid Sheikh, son of Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh of Tengpora, Srinagar, and Mukhtar Ahmad Sheikh, son of Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh of Nowgam, Srinagar, managed to get permission from revenue department for the conversion of the wetland for agricultural purpose on February 19, 2014, against the norms.
Permission approval, signed by Under Sectary to Government of Revenue department says: “I am here by directed to refer your letter No DCA/SQ/13/407WL/350 addressed to divisional commissioner, Kashmir, with a copy endorsed to OSD of a minister regarding the subject of upgrading the prosperity land for agricultural propose, strictly according to laws governing the subject.”
However, contrary to this, a deed between the alleged land gabbers and Abdul Gani Bhat, a local affiliated to a political party, exposes the government claim that it had been given for agriculture purpose. The deed says that the alleged land grabbers after constructing a godown will employee the local unemployed youth and the project will not be health hazardous or create any nuisance for the local residents. The deed between them and one Yasir Reshi, who has got the assembly ticket from a political party is witnessed by an MLA.
On 8th of June this year local Panchayat too had passed a resolution banning the filling of the wetland, besides challenging the Hiba (Gift) documents acquired by the alleged land grabbers. Hiba, according to Islamic Law, is the unconditional transfer of property. However, only a person having the ownership of property can donate it to any of his/her family member. So the documents according the panchayat resolution stand no validity as the wetland is a government property and can’t be transferred to any private party.
On July 7 last, department of Ecology, Environment and Remote sensing, while submitting its report, certified the land as wetland while Tehsildar Bijebahara too had reported the same. However, the government ignored these reports and allowed the filling of the wetland.
The conversion of wetland can also submerge the whole area and create hydraulic disorder in the village, department of Ecology, Environment and Remote sensing has maintained in its report, besides saying that it would snatch home from dozens of species of migratory birds.
Saahil Suhail
Anantnag (Islamabad)
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