SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2021 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/sunday-magazine Shrinking SURINSAR Rajan Gandhi Situated at a distance of 42 kms from Jammu city, Surinsar Lake is known for its natural bounty and immense mythological importance. Original name being 'Surung Sar' (tunnel path), derived from historical event that once during their exile sojourned the place where fell in love with Nagakanya, Alupi and so the son Baburuvahana was born who grew up with great physical power.

Arjuna knew nothing about son Baburuvahana and as such after conclusion of great war, when Pandavas performed yajna, held the horse released by Arjuna. A battle royal ensued with Arjuna felling down and swooned. Babruvahana's mother rushed and scolded him for fighting his own father and after much consultations the conclusion was drawn that Arjuna can be saved with the help of an herb which grew in Pattal Lok as such Babruvahana shot an arrow onto ground piercing the earth, picking up the lifesaving herb and appearing out at Surinsar. Arjun's life was thus saved and two depressions caused at entry and exit point were filled with water which are now two mesmerising lakes Surinsar and Mansar though the original sites of depressions created have changed very much owing to topographical changes through centuries. The two Union Territories of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State have above three-thousand big and small Surinsar : A picture of neglect and indifference. wetlands spread across all twenty-two districts of both J&K and Ladakh. Of these wetlands, four are of international monitoring process, changing priorities, and emerging dard EsselWorld type park, iron jhullas with backdrop of for years together. It seems authorities are either in hiberna- importance and of greater importance than those in all other issues. An authority should be appointed to implement the scenic mountain peaks on one side and lake on other side, tion or deliberately overlooking the immense damage to Indian states and Union Territories.One among them is management planning process, and this authority should be factually this iron park is a sore to eyes. During develop- lake. Surinsar lake.Surinsar is rain-fed without permanent dis- clearly identified to all stakeholders. A wetland use is not ment of this park only, all malba went into the lake with Environmental degradation is one of the prime indica- charge and this is very important for ecological sustainabili- 'wise-use' if the intervention leads to adverse changes in authorities including Surinsar Mansar Development tors of unsustainable socio- economic and inequitable devel- ty of this historic lake. Declared as Ramsar Wetland in 2005, ecosystem components and processes, reduction in water Authority, Forest Department and Wild Life Sanctuary opment. The pollution research papers published on the also included in the National Wetland Conservation flowing into the wetlands or reduction in the area under Authorities looking helplessly immense damage to this Hydrological Profile of Mansar and Surinsar lakes of year Programme of Government of and to be declared an inundation, or changes in inundation regime or fragmenta- Ramsar protected lake as this malba will ultimately settle 2010-2011 revealed that the Ca and Mg account for 68% of Eco-Sensitive Zone. These Surinsar-Mansar twin sacred tion of wetlands into small patches of water or reduction in down on bed and almost impossible to clear it. A further the cations and HCO3 accounts for 85% of the total anion. lakes attract a good number of waterfowl populations during water holding capacity or degradation of water quality or look around and different nullah outlets are visible all The concentration of phosphate (<0.01) confirms that the the winter months such as common teal, mallard, common reduction in diversity of native species or decline in wet- across the lake. There is no Sewage Treatment Plant at lakes are on verge of entering into the 'eutrophic stage', in pochard, tufted duck, gadwall, brahminy duck, wigeon, grey lands resources such as fish, aquatic plants, and water.As Surinsar, no Solid Waste treatment plant and the fact is common man's language 'Lake is dying'. Fact is there is no heron, pond heron, night heron, little egret, cattle egret, per guidelines of Ministry of Environment and Ecology Suriansar doesn't have even a Master Plan. Factually, there regular water quality survey in place. Nutrients have made Indian moorhen, purple moorhen, white breasted kingfish- each State/UT should have 'Wetlands Authority' which is no Management Plan for Surinsar right now. It seems algae grow, next step will be decomposition of algae which er, common kingfisher, grey wagtail, pheasant tailed jacana shall constitute Technical Committee to review brief docu- after signing Ramsar Treaty both GoI and State authorities increases biological oxygen demand,result will be death of and the twin lake also support important species of turtles ments, management plans and advise on any technical mat- have just forgotten about this lake. Untreated city sewage fish and other aquatic lives. As recent as January 2020 only, namely Indian flap shell turtle (Lissemyspunctata) and ter referred by the Wetlands Authority, a Grievance continuously gets dumped into lake. Most astonishing part hundreds of dead fish were found floating on the surface of Indian soft-shell turtle (Nilssoniagangeticus). But this place Committee, consisting of at least four members, to provide is that some last rites rituals are also being performed on Mansar. Fact is Carp |Fish was introduced at Mansar as well practically seems to be no one's baby right now. a mechanism for hearing and forwarding the grievances the banks of this lake with the result numerous clay pots as Surinsar as local fish variety got reduced drastically, this Ramsar is an international treaty signed in Ramsar, a city raised by the public to the Authority. can be seen on one side of bank with no effort by authorities Carp fish is not natural habitat of lake, invasive in nature, in in Iran in 1971, for the conservation and sustainable use of But as usual all rules and regulations fail in Jammu and to remove them. A walk around the pathway should have fact a major threat to small local fish and consequently many wetlands. The Convention's mission is "the conservation and Kashmir, Wetland Authority of our UT has been appointed been a life time experience but broken pathways with a risk migratory fowls no more visiting these lakes in absence of wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions in November 2020 only with 18 members as notified and of being falling into lake at many places, no lights at all local fish, their natural preferred diet. and international cooperation, as a contribution towards technical experts still to be nominated. A visit to Suriansar along the bank leaves one wondering what development has On infrastructure front, there is one single water cooler achieving sustainable development throughout the world". is too mesmerizing at first sight, blue water bowl just sud- been done all these years and where are funds used of mega near park, no other water facility on bank pathway, no good There are more than 2300 wetlands of international impor- denly appears in sight as one approaches the wetland. Surinsar-Mansar rejuvenation plan. As per Wildlife restaurant, in fact Jammu Tourism rooms and restaurant tance right now and today. India signed the Ramsar conven- Beautiful natural landscape is too soothing for visitors, far- Sanctuary Department which is directly responsible for Lake are locked for years together now. Why not rent it out at tion on February 1st,1982 and currently has 42 sites desig- away from hustle bustle of city life. Sight of numerous tem- conservation, this pathway should be elevated path as turtles minimum rates immediately? Is this for what Surinsar was nated as Wetlands of International Importance,the Ramsar ples, forming necklace of white pearls, on the far away are unable to have sun basking and no natural hatching declared Ramsar site? A partly budget to Development Sites.Ramsar convention provides guidance on environmen- banks is soothing to mind and eyes. There are two approach place for them, so practically lake water level should be low Authority is not sufficient at all.Why no Central PRASAD tal, social and economic impact assessment and cost-benefit roads, one old road leading to habitat and other straight and Wildlife Department has already written to Irrigation Scheme implemented here to develop Narsinghji and Naag analysis, zonation and multiple use, design and mainte- way to bank of lake. As one gets down from vehicle and Department to lower the level of lake water but no action in temples or for that matter entire lake? Invest money and nance of buffer zones, and the application of the precaution- approaches the bank reality just dawns, broken wooden jet- this regard has been taken so far. Higher water level is also manpower to make it sustainable. Authorities must intro- ary approach. Wetlands are dynamic areas, open to influ- ties, damaged view point sheds, buffaloes taking bath in eroding banks and cause of bank trees getting dead and spect and those responsible must be taken to task and made ence from natural and human factors. In order to maintain lake, algae and dumped mud resulting hundreds of meter- falling off in lake with no effort to remove them, as such lake accountable. High Court intervened in Gharana Wetland their biological diversity and productivity and to permit the s'of land appearing in the lake. A look around and it is clear is shrinking from all sides simultaneously. Even the mid case but legal process is too lengthy as such GoI and state wise use of their resources by people, an overall agreement that the lake bank opposite park is damaged and buffaloes island is surrounded by such dead wood and no plans to administration should immediately take corrective meas- is essential between the various managers, owners, occu- or stray animals get into lake from this point only. The so replant trees to strengthen banks and stop flow of mud into ures to save this lake. If not, then this historic lake is going piers and other stakeholders. 'Management Plan' should be called open park instead of being converted into a blossom- lake. All the wooden jetties and view point sheds on the far- to disappear much sooner than expected. Onus lies with kept under review and adjusted to take into account the ing flowers delight, has been converted into some substan- ther side are in tatters with wooden logs lying in lake itself Government. WOMEN ATHLETES There’s something about them The current crop of Indian women children are all taken in her stride as if it’s the most natural thing- to be wife, mother and boxer, not necessarily in that athletes, some of them competing at order. No wonder a film has been made on her. She has the Tokyo Olympics, establish that indeed inspired many others. Welterweight contender Lovlina Borgohain from Golaghat in upper Assam has just despite many hurdles, from humble knocked out her German opponent in her first Olympics backgrounds to social pressure, they appearance and perhaps more wins will follow. A school girl in Tamil Nadu took a fancy to a sport hardly too can make their presence felt in the familiar in the country- fencing. Her priest father and home- world of sports, finds Ranjita Biswas maker mother encouraged her though the expensive equip- ment needed posed a mental worry. Nevertheless, the girl Mirabai Chanu returns home to a thunderous applause. A persevered, starting to practice with bamboo sticks using job in the police force, a fat pay cheque from a grateful coun- them as swords fending off imaginary opponents. Did she try for bringing the Silver Medal at the Tokyo Olympics on imagine one day she would be rattling the sabre at the Tokyo the first day of its opening, awaits the diminutive woman. Olympics, the first ever Indian to qualify for the greatest Cut back to Nongpok Kakching village, 20 kms from sports event on earth? Fortune favoured 27 year old Bhavani ’s capital Imphal. A crowd of people sit tensely in front of the TV screen to catch their favourite daughter in (Chadalavada Anandha Sundhararaman Bhavani Devi) action. She lifts the heavy weight and they know she has done her hard work paying off as she started winning in competi- it and erupt in jubilation. On a chair in a corner sits a woman tions and the state government came forward to help her. quietly wiping a tear- of joy of course, but perhaps also Currently she is supported by GoSports under Rahul Dravid remembering how her little daughter, youngest of the sib- Athlete Mentorship Programme lings, carried a bigger bundle of firewood than the others In Tokyo when she lost to World no 3 Frenchwoman Championships in Finland in 2018. She has missed taking before catching their eyes a lot of hard work and dedication from the nearby jungle to keep the kitchen fire burning. Manon Brunet after defeating the competitor from Tunisia part in the Tokyo Olympics due to a hamstring injury but go into it. Perhaps that’s when her training started, and a desire to go earlier, she apologised to the nation with a ‘sorry’ but imme- promises to ‘bounce back’. This is what is refreshing about women sportspersons What is noticeable about these women is how they have coming out from the backwaters today- determined, focused. beyond her physical capacity sprouted? diately the social media erupted with laudatory comments on dared to dream, rising above difficulties, both financial and Be it archer Deepika Kumari from Jharkhand, daughter of an All the tears Mirabai shed at the Rio Olympics because she her achievement. And why not? Even in defeat she is a pio- personal, and reaching their goal. Their humble beginnings auto-rickshaw driver living in a village off Ranchi, or the could not lift the weights a single time are now washed away neer, opening a branch of sports- and inspiring others to fol- in rural corners or less affluent city suburbs have not pre- ‘Dangal’ girls from Haryana, the rifle-wielding shooters- in the tears of joy five years later- the personal sacrifices , the low. She is a hero. vented them from arriving at a wider arena. Social con- they are writing new chapters, and inspiring the new gener- toil and the sweat only she knows about, wiped out. A twen- Hima Das, the ‘Dhing Express’ from near Nagaon town in straints cautioning ‘girls don’t do that’ that often follows ation of women athletes to explore possibilities. ty one year hiatus after Karnam Malleswari of Andhra central Assam, started running barefoot in her village giving when women try to step ‘out of line’, have not restrained City-based Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, Manika Batra, PV Pradesh (then) won a bronze at the Sydney Olympics, 2000, hard time to her brothers and their friends to catch up with them either. Look at sprinter Dutee Chand of Odisha. She Sindhu, Paralympic Deepa Malik - they have blazed trails has been a long wait indeed for India. her. And look where she is now, one of the best women has had to fight even social hounding for her personal choice too, and they are no less tough and dedicated, their more Mary Kom, her fellow Manipuri, amazingly continues to sprinters in India thus carrying on the legacy of P T Usha by of a partner and now she is in Tokyo for the Olympics. privileged position notwithstanding. Now these women from compete at 38 years of age, winning against much younger winning medals at international arenas. She stunned the True, today there is more financial support from govern- humble backgrounds are joining them to show the world that pugilists, this being her fourth Olympics. Marriage, three world by winning the 400m gold in the World Junior mental agencies than before and sports foundations but they too can. (TWF)