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Chapter 7

Socio-economic Status of the Region around Wular

7.1 Introduction:

The lake Wular not only acts as a safety valve for the Kashmir Valley against

floods but is also a key factor in maintaining biodiversity, production of food, fodder and

other commercially important wetland resources. Although, the Valley used to be the

most preferred picnic spot since Mughal period, it came under the threat of insurgency in

1980s. Along with these man-made conflicts, the population of the valley also has to face

the calamities like floods and earthquakes. Inspite of these threats, the valley serves as a

rich wetland heritage for birds, fish, vegetation and other economically profitable

resources.

The economic evaluation of the Wular Lake and its associated wetlands would

involve understanding of the complete ecosystem of the valley and the interactions of its

components in time and space. Hence, its socio-economic features include wetlands,

forests, vegetation, willow plantation, waterbirds, fish production, agriculture, and

horticulture. These features together have their impacts on the overall environment of the

lake Wular.

A major difficulty in evaluating such a complex environmental ecosystem is the

insufficient information on its ecological, lithological and hydrological processes. The

economic valuation is concerned with ultimately the allocation of wetland resources to

improve human welfare and their wetland values.

Values are ‘an estimate, usually subjective, of worth, merit, quality and

importance’. These may be derived from outputs of the wetland that can be consumed

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directly (such as food, recreation, timber, wildlife harvesting, fuel wood, transport) or

indirect use arising from functions occurring within the ecosystem such as water quality,

flood control, ground water recharge, shoreline stabilization, storm protection, etc. These

values may encompass future direct outputs or indirect uses, such as biodiversity or

conserved habitats, culture and heritage (Barbier, 2000).

7.2 Wetlands:

The catchments of Wular Lake are essentially linked with the entire Jhelum basin,

which extends over an area of 12,777 sq kms. The basin can be broadly classified into

following three sub catchments (Fig. 7.1).

Fig. 7.1 Catchments of the lake Wular

(Source:Comprehensive Management Action Plan, Wetlands imternational, South Asia)

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a) Wular upstream sub-catchment of river Jhelum (prior to its entry into Wular); Area

8,627 sq kms.

b) Wular direct sub-catchment (directly draining into Wular); Area 1,144 sq kms.

c) Wular downstream sub-catchment; Area 3,006 sq kms.

7.3 Forests:

The forests account for 5,348 sq km area of the river Jhelum catchment. The

forests, being temperate, are dominated by coniferous trees. Deodar (Cedrus deodara),

Kail (Pinus excelsa), Silver fir (Abies webbiana), Kachil (Picea morinda) and Birch

(Betulautilis) are the key species found in these forests. Excessive harvesting and over-

exploitation of Deodar has led to its virtual elimination and it presently comprises less

than 0.4% of the total area. The area under Deodar is presently colonized by Kail,

propagated through the Forest Department plantations in the last two decades. The

conifers form the dominant component of the canopy throughout except in certain moist

patches where deciduous species viz walnut, ash and bird cherry occur in abundance. The

tree growth ends with birch and junipers. Alpine pastures fringe the tree line at higher

altitudes.

7.4 Vegetation

Vegetation of Wular Lake is an important component of the lake ecosystem

providing both ecological and economic benefits. The communities within the lake area

have been utilizing aquatic vegetation for food, fodder and other purposes. However,

dense growth of some species has chocked the lake area, thereby, reducing water flow

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and its overall potential. Species composition, their distribution and economic importance

in the lake ecosystem is briefly highlighted in the following section.

7.4.1 Composition and distribution of different species:

Overall, 13 plant species have been reported in the Wular Lake (Kundangar,

1993). However, 24 species have been reported in the associated wetlands (Kaul &

Trisal, 1985). It means the species richness is higher in the associated wetlands as

compared to the lake proper. A list of some important species recorded from Wular and

associated wetlands are given in Table 7.1.

Table 7.1 Macrophytes in Wular Lake and associated wetlands

Alisma plantigina Phragmites communis Nelumbium nucifera

Butomus umbellatus Rananculus scleratus Nymphaea stellata

Chara zeylanica Rumex maritimus Nymphaea alba

Cyperus rotundus Sparganium errectum Nymphoides peltatum

Eleocharis palustris Typha angustata Salvinia natans

Trapa natans Potamogeton natans

Potamogeton lucens

Hydrocharis dubia Ceratophyllum demersum Lemna Sp.

Lycopus europqeus Hydrilla verticillata Azolla Sp.

In general, vegetation forms well defined zones distinguishing emergents, rooted

floating leaf, free floating and submerged belts which are essentially adapted to water

level fluctuations of the lake besides other environmental factors.

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7.4.2 Willow and Ningli - Non-ecofriendly plantations:

Raising of willow plantation has severely altered the hydrological processes of the

wetland. These plantations act as barriers to silt laden waters of the river Jhelum forcing

it to discharge the sediment load into the lake and thereby inducing loss of water holding

capacity. A spatial analysis of the sedimentation pattern within the wetland clearly

indicates rapid siltation along the fringes of the plantation areas. The detritus from the

plantations have also accelerated nutrient enrichment of the water body leading to water

quality deterioration.

The plantations of Ningli species were undertaken by the government agencies to

combat the flood hazards. But, due to its enormous growth, it has led to adverse effects

on the groundwater conditions in its vicinity. This has also led to reduction of the lake

area (Photo 7.1).

Photo 7.1 Ningli plantation leading to reduction in lake area

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7.4.3 Economically important species:

Lake vegetation includes some economically important species utilized for food, fodder

and fuel by the communities and small scale enterprises. Its brief account is highlighted

below:

(a) Food: Several plant species in the wetland have significant food value and are

used either by the local communities for their own consumption or marketed to the

neighboring towns. Water chestnut (Trapa sp.) locally called Singhara and Nelumbium

sp. (locally called Nadru) are the two major food resources derived from the lake. Two

species of Water chestnut viz. Trapa natans and T. bispinosa are of great economic value

to the people living in the area, particularly to the economically disadvantageous group.

(b) Fodder: Phragmites-Nymphoides- Nymphaea are the main species utilized as

fodder by the communities living in and around the lake (Photo 7.2). Overall, fodder

plants cover an area of 18.60 sq km of the lake and represent 43.69 % of the total lake

vegetation. These species form large belts in the Garoora - Laharwalpora portion of the

lake occupying 10.81 sq km. This portion of the lake is swampy and shallow due to

heavy load of silt brought in by river Jhelum and its deposition due to thick strands of

willow plantation, which choke the inlet area.

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Photo 7.2 Cattle fodder – Nymphae (khor) from Wular

(c) Fuel: Willow plantation covering 27.30 sq km in the lake area is utilized for

supply of fuel wood, mainly to Srinagar besides its utilization for manufacture of cricket

bats. The state government agencies, Rakhs and farms, forest department, local

panchayats and Department of Social forestry have undertaken massive plantation of

willows. Besides these, several plant species or their components are utilized locally for

fuel purposes.

(d) Small scale enterprises: Several plant species are utilized for mat and basket

weaving, bat manufacturing and other purposes. The yield from the cultivation of Trapa

is further processed and transported through a chain of contractors and finally sold in the

markets of Srinagar and other towns.

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7.5 Waterbirds:

Strategically located, the wetlands of Kashmir serve as important staging grounds

for medium and long distance migratory geese, ducks, shorebirds, cranes and other

species that breed in the northern latitudes of Central Asia and Siberia. Many of these

wetlands are of international and national importance due to the large population and

diversity of water birds and other bird species. of these, Wular Lake and Hokersar have

already been included under the Ramsar Convention considering their importance based

on biodiversity and socio-economic importance. More recently, the lake Wular and

associated marshes viz., Haigam, Hokersar, Mirgund and Shallabugh have been included

in the network of ‘Important Bird Areas’, based on their international importance (Islam

and Rahmani, 2004).

During the period of March-June, large areas of Wular covered with floating

vegetation serve as breeding sites for species such as Indian Whiskered Tern, Pheasant-

tailed Jacana and Little Grebe. The peripheral shallow areas with longer grasses like

Typha sp., Phragmites sp., etc. serve as breeding sites for species such as Moorhen, Little

Bittern, Purple Moorhen and Indian Great Reed-warbler. The associated marshes of

Wular Lake like Mukhdoomyari and Saderkote act as breeding grounds for a number of

bird species especially Mallard. The peripheral wooded areas of Wular lake also serve as

nesting sites not only for many forest species but also for a number of wetland dependent

species.The threats to migratory and breeding waterbirds in general include heavy

poaching, loss and modification of habitats. Decrease in wetland area leading to loss of

food and cover plants have led to decline in waterbird populations in the recent times

(Photo: 7.3).

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Photo: 7.3 Wetlands as nesting sites for birds

7.6 Fish Production:

Wular Lake, with its large expanse of water, is an important resource for fisheries.

The fisheries of Wular Lake is a combination of capture and culture fisheries. The

endemic species of Kashmir valley are Schizothorax niger (Snow trout) Triplophisa

marmorata and T. kashmiriensis. They feed on detritus, attached plant (including algae)

coatings of the stratum.

The annual requirement of table fish for the Kashmir valley is 37,000 MT/annum,

as per standard nutritional requirement of 11 kg/capita / annum consumption. The current

production of the state from culture and capture fisheries is 19,500 MT / annum, thereby,

indicating a deficit of more than 50% of fish requirement. Heckel (1844) had reported

occurrence of 16 species, while Das and Subla (1963-64) listed 36 species. But, the

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recent surveys indicate occurrence of only 13 species from Jhelum and associated lakes,

including Wular.

It is clear that several species of schizothoracinae, which are endemic to the

region, are declining both in diversity and population. The commercially important fish

species in Wular Lake are listed in Table 7.2.

Table 7.2 Economically important fish species of Wular

S.No Fish species Local name

1. Schizothorax esocinus Cherru

2. Schizothorax curvifrons Sattar gad

3. Schizothorax micropogon Chattir gad

4. Schizothorax niger Aile gad

5. Schizothorax longipinus Dape gad

6. Schizothorax richardsonii Khont

7. Nemacheilus sp. Shud gurun

8 Cyprinus carpio communis Punjabi Gad

9. Cyprinus carpio specularis Scale Carp

7.7 Agriculture and horticulrure

Agriculture and horticulture account for 38% of the basin area. Rice is the

primary food crop of the basin, grown and cultivated in 35% of the gross cultivated area.

There is a single cropping pattern within the entire basin. The other important crops

grown in the valley include oilseeds, mainly mustard and pulses.

Horticulture accounts for 18% of the gross cropped area and is the mainstay of the

economy of the state. The total area under horticulture within the basin extends to 1,749

sq km, of which 65% is under fresh fruits and the rest under dry fruits (walnut and

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almonds). Maize, the staple food of Gujjers and Bakerwals, is cultivated in the hills and

accounts for 26% of the area. Maize is a kharif crop sown during May – June and

harvested in September-October. The rich harvest of the crops is mainly based on

application of heavy doses of animal fertilizers.

However, the land use of direct catchment is dominated by forests, which account

for 39% of the overall area. Agriculture and horticulture account for 30% and 10% of the

overall area respectively. While, pastures account for 8% of the total area. 11% and 3%

of the watershed area is under glaciers and high altitude lakes respectively. Forests extend

over 445 sq km of the direct catchment area. Alpine pastures, extending up to 8750 ha are

the unique features of the catchment.