Ulfat Bashir
Due to the sinkhole in Brengi stream in Wandevalgam village in Kokrnag area of south Kashmir, the water of stream is flowing into the sinkhole leaving the stream dry.
The water body has been severely affected due to the drying up of the stream, also causing threat to aquatic life. The steps taken by the administration in this regard have diverted the water of the stream towards other tributaries through channels.
The landowners would use this water for irrigating thousand Kanal of land but now they have been completely deprived of it. Orchids are also being adversely affected.
Now, that the farming season is about to begin, it remains to be seen what effect the sinkhole has on the farming as thousands of kanal of land in the area depends on this water body which includes about 150 villages.
“This is a very different kind of geological phenomenon developed due to the gradual dissolution of limestone rocks in the river. Our teams including Flood Control, Jal Shakti, and geological experts of Kashmir University are at the spot to take stock of the situation. We don’t want to make a hasty decision to fill the sinkhole without proper advice from the three teams that are working on it,” said DC Anantnag Piyush Singla.
Meanwhile, the Tehsildar Kokernag, Syed Muiz Qadri, told The Kashmiriyat, “The analysis team submitted the report to Deputy Commissioner and action will be implemented on the reports from today.”
He also added that people were advised not to spread and share rumours on social networking sites and restrictions like section 144 will remain continue in the area so that no untoward incident takes place.