Srinagar feels the heat of rapid and disorganized urbanization, says Ozair
(Ozair Nissar, 25, was born in Srinagar and received his school education from the New Era School and the Tyndale Bisoce Memorial School. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the Sri Pratap College, and his Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir. He completed a training course in video production from the University of Pune and directed a documentary titled, “Kamwashika,” at the same university. Currently, he is working as a senior correspondent for the Daily Etalaat, having worked previously for other local dailies. He enjoys listening to music, reading and writing.)
5 lakh souls squeezed in 11.4 sq km
Ozair Nissar
Srinagar: As the authorities are lobbying for a metropolitan status for the twin capitals of the state, Srinagar, summer capital of Jammu Kashmir, presents a dismal picture on ground.
Besides lacking basic infrastructure, the city does not conform to the requirements of a metro city and is too congested to get a metro status, for it houses more than 450 persons per hectare which is double than normal standard for metro cities.
“Due to the rapid urbanization, about five lakh souls of Srinagar city live on just 11.4 sq km area with a population density of about 450 persons per hectare against a normal standard of 175 persons (maximum) for metro cities,” according to an official document released here during a two-day workshop on Community Participation in Rain Water Harvesting and Water Conservation.
The document maintains that problem of rapid urbanization, uncontrolled extraction of sand and other river bed material is playing havoc with all water bodies in Kashmir which has drastically changed the total hydrology and morphology of these water bodies thereby accelerating the siltation.
“Due to scarce land availability, people have indiscriminately resorted to encroaching on water bodies and rapidly converting them into residential colonies and other commercial establishments by filling earth excavated from the karewa lands,” reveals the document.This on one hand reduces the wetland areas and on the other causes tremendous ecological disaster due to vandalizing of the karewas.
The document suggests vertical development of the colonies and residential houses to stop encroachment on water bodies and vanishing karewas.
“Due to the social set up in Kashmir people only go for horizontal development and all dwelling units are constructed individually. There is a need for major change in the state’s housing policy, and we should go for vertical expansion to stop encroachment on water bodies and vanishing of karewa lands.”
Besides mentioning the status of water bodies in and around Srinagar the document explains the high levels of degradation and siltation of water bodies in other districts of the Valley, which has drastically reduced the water retention efficiency of these channels leading to untimely floods and droughts.
“In the districts of Baramulla and Kupwara, the main Pohru basin is having highly degraded catchment and causes tremendous siltation en-route. Out of its total catchment of 1.89 lakh hectares about 0.64 lakh hectare is highly degraded and just 0.28 lakh hectare (43.75 percent) has been treated leaving thereby 0.36 lakh hectare (56.25 percent) which is still required to be treated,” the document says.
It says that due to reduction in forest cover, the penetration rate of rain water has reduced drastically which has caused tremendous reduction in time of concentration and “it is mainly because of this reason that we often face sporadic flood like situation even with a slight precipitation.”
“If the deforestation and this extraction of river bed material and filling of water bodies goes unabated, a major ecological disaster in the Valley is imminent,” maintains the document.