Budgam, Nov 3 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Climate Action Group (JKCAG) on Tuesday staged a demonstration at Makhama in Beerwah, alleging that a concrete structure constructed across Sukhnag stream has obstructed the upstream movement of fish, affecting the livelihood of nearly 150 fishermen families from around a dozen villages.
A JKCAG delegation led by its chairman Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat visited the site and met the affected fishermen, who alleged that they had been unable to catch fish for the past two years due to the obstruction.
According to the group, the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Division, Beerwah, constructed the concrete structure beneath Makhama bridge nearly two years ago to protect the bridge abutments. However, the construction has allegedly blocked the natural movement of fish upstream.
Dr Muzaffar demanded immediate intervention by the authorities and construction of a fish ladder to restore fish movement in the stream.
“This concrete structure is completely illegal and has been built without any consent from the Fisheries and Flood Control departments. In fact, the Fisheries Department had written to the Executive Engineer, R&B Beerwah, but no action has been taken even after more than 18 months,” he alleged.
Members of the Sukhnag Fishermen Association, also known as the Mahigeer Association, joined the protest and demanded immediate measures to safeguard their livelihood.
Abdul Rashid Waza, a fisherman from Beerwah, alleged that he had faced action after raising his voice against the construction.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“When we raised our voice against this injustice, the contractor got me arrested two years ago. Our voice is being muzzled, and nobody has listened to us for the last two years,” he said.
Dr Muzaffar said the Assistant Director Fisheries, Budgam, had also raised concerns over the construction and written to the Executive Engineer, R&B Division Beerwah, but alleged that no corrective measures had been taken.
He further claimed that Sukhnag, a designated trout stream, had previously been subjected to illegal riverbed mining by a construction company, which was stopped following the group's intervention before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) two years ago.
Alleging that the construction violated the National Water Policy and the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2010, Dr Muzaffar urged Chief Engineer R&B Central Kashmir Ishfaq Beigh, Deputy Commissioner Budgam Jatin Kishore and Director Fisheries J&K Abdul Majid Tak to intervene.
“If the authorities do not act, we will again be forced to seek the intervention of the National Green Tribunal,” he warned.
JKCAG members Irshad Mushtaq, Advocate Shakir Parray and Tariq Bhat accompanied Dr Muzaffar during the visit.
An official response from the R&B and Fisheries departments to the allegations was not immediately available. (KNS)