Kashmir is an oval-shaped basin with a plain area of nearly 5600 kms. The valley has large tracts of plateaus, the Karewas (one of the most valuable geomorphological assets of Kashmir); locally known as Woedders. These are similar to inter-mountain fills that comprise of unconsolidated gravel and mud. Geologists say that Karewas of Kashmir were formed during the Pleistocene period; a period that began about 2.6 million years ago and lasted until about 11,700 years ago. This was the time when the Valley was underwater, resembling a massive lake. When water drained out through Khadanyar (Baramulla), huge mud deposits were left during the process. These mud deposits solidified, and came to be known as Karewas; massive plateaus that are dry but highly fertile.
Quarrying the Fertile Karewas
The Karewas have a very old history and are known as geological and archaeological treasures of the Valley. These Woedders remain an unnoticed heritage of the region. They are so flat and massive that Srinagar International Airport is built on a similar plateau, in district Budgam, called the Karewa Damodar. However, now, due to massive urbanization, the Karewas are under severe threat. They are being razed to the ground, bulldozed.
Since the last 25 years, almost 20-30% of these geological formations have been plundered in Pulwama and Budgam. These pristine structures could have been developed as a tourist attraction, easily enticing enthusiastic archaeologists and geologists from the world over. But authorities did not grant the Karewas their rightful protection by declaring them as heritage sites. By allowing excavation of soil and clay from Karewas, the authorities paved a way for huge geological damage.
For the construction of Srinagar Ring Road, the government recently issued an order to excavate soil/clay from the Karewas of Pattan. Environmentally conscious residents of the Valley, including a local activist from Pattan, Hamid Rather held protests in Srinagar city against the move. Many suggested constructing this alternative highway around Srinagar city (Ring Road) from clay or soil displaced from the flood-spill channel, extending from Rambagh to Narbal. However, all efforts were in vain.
The Valley is bound to lose large tracts of Karewas in the next 2-3 years if alternative sites, like Wular embankments, or flood-spill channels, are not explored for clay excavation.
Fossils in the Karewas
Prof. Khurshid Ahmad Parray, in his research article, published in Current Science (Volume 100) explains that geological research has been carried out in various parts of Kashmir valley by several geologists since a very long time. The findings have revealed several fossils buried in the upper reaches of Budgam.
As per the studies undertaken by Godwin Austen (1864), it was reported that fish scales were found in Karewas of Gogjee Pathri, and upper mountain areas of Liddermud and Yusmarg. Reports by Patterson (1940) also revealed that a now-extinct elephant species, called Elephas hysudricus, was found in the Karewas of Pulwama and Budgam. The article further states that fossils of Sivatherium giganteum (an extinct species of Giraffe) have been found in the Samboora Karewas near Pampore.
Noted geologist of Kashmir valley, Prof. Abdul Majid Bhat, has researched extensively on the Khonmoh fossil park, which is said to be a 252 million-year-old fossil site. He has also been raising concern on the destruction of Karewas, demanding that the government initiate the necessary legal framework to declare Karewas as heritage sites.
Flood Threats
Continuous soil excavation from the Karewas, and deforestation has led to extensive siltation of the Jhelum river, causing massive damage during floods. But no reported crackdowns have been attempted against soil excavators operating in broad daylight across several areas of Budgam, Pulwama and Pattan. Central Kashmir’s Budgam district is mostly affected as excavation has been underway for more than two decades now. An estimated 30% of the Karewas in Khansahib, Budgam and Chadoora alone has been torn down by huge soil excavating machines and JCBs. Even in Gundchal Arwani of South Kashmir, demolition of the Karewas has been reported.
The Qazigund-Baramulla Railway Project
After the Qazigund-Baramulla railway project was started in Kashmir in the mid 90s, massive soil excavation work was taken up in Pattan, Pulwama and Budgam’s Karewas. Hundreds of trucks, lorries, and carriers were pressed into work by various construction firms which were given contracts to carry the clay/soil used for creating elevated railway tracks. The Karewas of Pulwama and Budgam became the direct target of plunder. It has been reported that the muck used for making elevated railway tracks from Qazigund to Baramulla contains 90% of the material obtained from the Karewas. A beautiful hillock at village Khanda in Chadoora Tehsil of Budgam was razed to the ground within a year or so during this process.
The Land of Saffron
Saffron cultivated on thousands of hectares of the Karewas, especially in Pampore, Samboora, Parigam, Wanpora, Kaisermulla, Sarai Khampora, Kuzweira, Kultreh and a number of other villages in Pulwama and Budgam, has been affected drastically. In Wadipora and Kultreh villages, the Karewas were vandalized by brick kilns as dozens of such kilns were set up in these areas. Clay from these Karewas was then used to make bricks. As a result, these beautiful plateaus are now defaced. In addition, Karewas around Ichgam, Ichkoot and Budibagh have been destroyed too. Many are apprehensive that Karewas of Budgam and Pulwama will further be destroyed now that work on Srinagar Semi Ring Road has already started.
Chadoora, Hyathpora and Nagam Karewas were once famous for quality almond orchards. But these, too, have been vandalized as demands for clay are increasing with each passing day. Farmers may be held responsible as well. Desiring to gain a good sum in exchange, many welcome construction firms to excavate their owned land.
The government is adamant in making the environmental impact assessment documents public. So, people are still unaware of the risk Karewas is under, or the kind of measures National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) will take to cause minimum environmental disaster.
Recommendations
The geomorphological local heritage of Kashmir, the Karewas, needs to be saved from destruction at all costs.
- The government must immediately call upon the NHAI to ensure no soil excavation is done around Karewas during Srinagar Ring Road construction.
- EIA and related documents explored before construction need to be made public.
- It is imperative to explore soil excavation options from flood spill channels and Wular embankments. Places, such as these, need proper desiltation. This will, in turn, help save the rural/urban population during floods.
- The muck or silt dredged from flood-spill channels and embankments might have moisture. However, the same may be dried and transported to various locations for use in construction.
- The saffron lands need to be protected, with emphasis on disallowing construction of brick kilns on these fertile lands. Saffron is one of the backbones of the local economy. So, the authorities should place importance on its security.
- With Kashmir’s geologists endorsing protection of the Karewas, and these lands being home to quite a number of important fossils, the authorities must make a move to coronate the Woedders as heritage sites. Such a step would go a long way in supporting archaeological studies and tourism in the future.
- All illegal dredging operations in and around these Karewas must be stopped if fertile lands need to be restored.
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