Srinagar, Nov 30 : With thousands of migratory birds already arriving at key wetlands in Kashmir and more expected in the coming days, the Wildlife Protection Department has intensified restoration work across major wetland sites under a structured conservation plan.
Altaf Ahmad, Wildlife Warden, Wetland Division Kashmir, while speaking to Kashmir News Service(KNS), said that the department is managing eight designated wetlands, including Shalbugh, Hokersar, Haigam, Mirgund and the Pampore wetlands.
According to him, an Integrated Management Action Plan (IMAP), prepared in 2022, identifies key challenges and the actions needed to strengthen the wetland ecosystem.
“One major recommendation is desilting of wetlands. Over several decades, large amounts of silt have accumulated at wetlands such as Hokersar and even Wular Lake. Desilting is important to restore natural water flow in areas where water previously existed but has now disappeared,” Ahmad said.
He said desilting operations are currently underway at multiple sites, including the wetland where the department team was present on Saturday.
He added that the arrival of migratory birds generally increases rapidly after December 10 to 15, and the department is working to ensure that all wetlands maintain the minimum required water level for the birds to settle.
“As the migratory season begins, it becomes essential to ensure that birds arriving from distant regions get a suitable habitat. We close all breaches in embankments so that water does not escape. All channels and streams bringing water into wetlands are cleared to keep the supply uninterrupted,” he said.
According to Ahmad, the restoration work is being carried out on a fixed seasonal timeline so that wildlife remains undisturbed. “Once we reach around December 5 to 10, all work stops completely for around two to two-and-a-half months so that the migratory birds do not face disturbance,” he said.
The Wildlife Warden said the ongoing desilting work is being done as per government norms and the aim is to provide safe and stable conditions for the large number of migratory birds expected each year.
He said maintaining water depth, improving flow channels and preventing silt buildup are expected to support long-term ecological balance of wetlands that serve as major bird habitats in winter.
The department said monitoring teams will remain active throughout the winter to ensure that there is no activity that disrupts the seasonal stay of migratory birds.(KNS).
