Umaisar Gull Ganie
Kokarnag, Jul 12: The renowned Mughal garden of Kokarnag, celebrated for its unmatched beauty, is on the brink of desertification due to significant pollution and official negligence. Situated about 25 kilometres from Anantnag, this botanical garden, known for its lush green forests, pristine freshwater springs, and rainbow trout farm, is rapidly losing its allure.
The name “Kokernag” combines the Kashmiri word “Koker” meaning chicken and the Sanskrit word “Nag” meaning springs. The streams from the foothills of a densely forested hill in Brengi Valley disperse into several channels, resembling a hen’s claws, which is why it is named Kokernag.
A recent visit revealed that the garden has turned into a dust bowl due to heavy tourist footfall, causing extensive desertification. The department responsible for its maintenance appears to have neglected the garden.
Malik Mehraj Khalid, a concerned social media user, posted, “The Botanical Garden of Kokernag, a haven of beauty, is under threat! Heavy foot traffic is causing desertification, turning it into a dust bowl. This precious green space needs breathing room. I urge you all to highlight this critical issue on your social media platforms. Your voice can spark conservation efforts and ensure this irreplaceable beauty thrives for generations to come.”
Echoing this sentiment, Malik Showkat stated, “I have personally witnessed the gruesome condition of the garden. We are exploiting natural resources at a rapid pace. On the other side, only revenue is being generated, and no maintenance is being done at all. It is high time to preserve these natural resorts at the earliest to avert future disasters.”
Another user shared their distress: “Exploitation is at its peak. Almost 200 employees are working in the garden, but due to incompetent officers and the negligence of employees, the situation is dire. A few days ago, I, along with my family, wandered for at least two hours to find a suitable place for lunch. It felt like a desert. It’s a very sorry state. I hope the administration will pay attention to this post and wake up to find a solution to these problems so that we can proudly invite our friends again to this historical garden.”
Kritika Yadav, a tourist from Mumbai, expressed her disappointment: “We have paid Rs 30 as an entry fee, and now we are wondering where to sit. Everything here looks like dust. For what purpose are they charging entry fees when there is nothing to show? We know about this place for years, but this time we are witnessing what I would call the destruction of nature.”
She suggested that the place needs rest so that the greenery can return. “What good is revenue if we lose this famous garden? A human being should not be so selfish,” she said.
A local social activist, who wished to remain unnamed, criticised the Kokarnag Development Authority (KDA) and the floriculture department for failing to protect the garden. “They have outsourced the garden, but that does not mean they should destroy it for revenue generation. The ‘Babus’ of all concerned departments don’t even bother to visit the garden; what more can we expect from them?” he said.
The activist said the fountains outside the garden, intended for beautification, have been defunct for months, and the seats in the shelter sheds are damaged.
Despite multiple attempts, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KDA remained unresponsive to calls or messages seeking comment.
However, an official from the Floriculture Department said the garden’s condition is due to a shortage of rainfall and an increase in tourist footfall. “The garden, outsourced for management, has seen 1.20 lakh tourists in the past 15 days, exceeding its carrying capacity. The lack of an intact irrigation system and a dry spell have exacerbated the issue,” he said.
The official suggested that closing the garden for rejuvenation might be a necessary government decision and appealed to visitors to help keep the garden clean.
The Tehsildar of Kokarnag, who also serves as the Executive Officer of the Municipal Committee Kokarnag, said that any work within their jurisdiction would be completed as soon as possible to address the garden’s deteriorating condition.
