SRINAGAR, APRIL 18 — A new report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has issued a stark warning regarding the survival of Hokersar Lake, noting that the vital wetland is losing its ecological balance due to administrative lapses and illegal land use. The audit for 2023–24 reveals that 2,528 kanals of the reserve are currently under unauthorized occupation for residential construction, agriculture, and plantations.
The audit noted that the absence of a comprehensive conservation and management plan has resulted in sustained degradation of the ecologically significant wetland. Investigators stated that the lack of proper survey and demarcation has directly enabled these encroachments, while official eviction efforts have proven largely ineffective despite the issuance of formal notices.
Data analyzed between 2014 and 2020 indicates a dramatic shift in the lake’s landscape. While open water area decreased by 7 percent, scrub area saw a massive increase of 1,157 percent and siltation rose by 104 percent. The CAG stated that the lake is facing deterioration due to pollution, encroachment, and lack of scientific planning, warning that its pristine glory faces the risk of extinction.
Financial oversight also revealed significant gaps. Although ₹46.29 crore was utilized for flood-related works between 2018 and 2022, the audit affirmed that key components such as sewage treatment plants and hydraulic gates were never executed. The report maintained that current spending on dredging and de-weeding lacks a scientific basis, as no proper vegetation mapping or impact assessments were performed prior to the work.
