The valley of Kashmir is an oval-shaped basin with a small plain area of approximately 160 x 60 km. The valley has large tracts of plateaus, locally known as Karewas or Woedder. These small hillocks are an intermountain fill that comprises unconsolidated gravel and mud. Geologists say that the Karewas of Kashmir were formed during the Pleistocene period, which began about 2.6 million years ago and lasted until about 11,700 years ago. During this time, the entire valley of Kashmir was submerged under water, resembling a massive lake (Sati Sar). When the valley’s water drained out through Khadanyar (Baramulla), huge mud deposits were left behind, which solidified over time and came to be known as Karewas.

Kashmir’s Karewas are massive plateaus—dry yet highly fertile. Over the last two to three decades, these Karewas have been plundered for clay excavation, a trend that has significantly increased over the last 5 to 6 years due to rising demand for clay in highway construction. The clay from Karewas in Budgam , Pulwama, Anantnag especially Bijbehera and Pattan area in Baramulla has also been used to fill low-lying areas and wetlands, a major contributing factor to the devastating floods in Kashmir, especially in Srinagar in 2014.

Thousands of hectares of Karewa land in Pulwama, particularly in the Parigam to Newa villages and the Chadoora area, including Kuzwera, Kultreh, Nagam, and Hayathpora villages, have been plundered by an organized mafia under the guise of development. Unfortunately, officers from the Revenue Department, including Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Tehsildars, have facilitated this loot by granting so-called Disposal Permits. These permits have also been misused to exploit Kashmir’s rivers and streams.

Despite several laws protecting rivers and streams, there is no legislation safeguarding Karewas. The Revenue & Geology & Mining Departments continue issuing permissions to destroy these unique landforms.

Private Member’s Bill

To protect and preserve Karewas, Dr. Syed Bashir Veeri, MLA from Bijbehara, has introduced a Private Member’s Bill, an appreciable........

© Kashmir Observer