Srinagar, Sept. 9 -- Residents of Narkara in Budgam on Tuesday appealed to the Environment Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to intervene urgently to stop large-scale encroachments on the Narkara wetland and to address the deteriorating condition of the flood channel.

They warned that continued neglect could lead to severe environmental and agricultural damage.

In 1971, the Narkara wetland covered 342 hectares (3.42 sq. km) but by 2010 it had shrunk to 261 hectares (2.61 sq. km). Locals alleged that powerful land mafias have illegally occupied significant portions of the wetland, reducing its water-holding capacity and disturbing its ecological balance.

"The wetland is our lifeline. If it continues to shrink, both our environ...