The saga of Jammu’s River Tawi, once hailed as the lifeline of the city, has become a stark reminder of how unchecked urbanization, official negligence, and rampant encroachments can push a river to ecological collapse. For decades, its floodplains have been exploited through illegal land grabbing, unregulated construction, and untreated sewage inflows. The consequences are severe erosion of river ecology, heightened flood risks, and growing threats to public health. The silence of institutions on these issues has now invited judicial scrutiny, with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stepping in to force accountability.
The Tribunal’s latest directions to the Jammu district administration and the Jammu Development Authority mark a critical turning point. A report revealing 256 encroachers in just two khasras of Jammu Khas tehsil exposes the alarming scale of land misuse. Even more troubling is the lack of clarity on action taken against violators, despite their names being on record. The NGT’s insistence on affidavits and compliance reports is a firm reminder that institutions managing public resources cannot abdicate responsibility. Judicial oversight, in this context, is not merely corrective but essential to break through administrative inertia. What the proceedings reveal is not only a catalogue of encroachments or sewage mismanagement but also the deeper politics of compliance. Encroachments along riverbanks often benefit powerful interests, while smaller violations thrive under official apathy. This dynamic has left the river vulnerable, while government files move slowly. By demanding transparency, the Tribunal seeks to restore the balance between development and ecological protection. The uncomfortable reality remains that the absence of proactive governance has left judicial intervention as the only viable safeguard. Equally worrying is the performance of the Sewage Treatment Plant at Bhagwati Nagar. While it meets most standards, it fails to control faecal coliform levels, allowing harmful bacteria to enter the river. This is more than an environmental concern; it is a serious public health risk, particularly for downstream communities reliant on the river for daily use. Contaminated water raises the possibility of disease outbreaks, underscoring how environmental degradation directly impacts human lives. By keeping this issue on the agenda for its next hearing, the NGT has highlighted that environmental justice and human health are inseparable. The Tribunal’s directions are also a reminder that rivers cannot be treated as real estate to be parcelled out or as open drains for urban waste. Floodplains serve as ecological buffers against floods, replenish groundwater, and support biodiversity. Every illegal encroachment erodes these functions, while untreated waste steadily poisons the river. The Tawi case shows that rivers are not empty spaces awaiting exploitation but vital natural systems that sustain the city’s health and resilience. However, judicial intervention alone cannot guarantee sustainable outcomes. A lasting solution requires synergy between government agencies, academic research, and civil society participation. Environmentalists have long warned of the consequences of unchecked exploitation, yet their voices often remain sidelined in the pursuit of short-term gains. The administration must now treat compliance with NGT orders not as a box-ticking exercise but as an opportunity to rebuild governance on the principles of transparency and ecological responsibility. The case of River Tawi is not confined to Jammu; it is a litmus test for how we confront the tension between urban growth, environmental protection, and legal accountability. If the NGT’s directives lead to the removal of encroachments, effective sewage treatment, and restoration of floodplains, it will not only revive the river but also strengthen public trust in institutions tasked with safeguarding natural resources. The stakes are immense, for at risk is not merely a water body but the trust that binds people, governance, and nature.
For the Jammu and Kashmir administration, the path ahead must be urgent and decisive. Immediate removal of encroachments from floodplains, strict enforcement of construction bans, and full disclosure of action taken are crucial first steps. Sewage treatment infrastructure must be upgraded to ensure treated water meets all health standards. A dedicated task force that brings together experts, civil society, and local communities could monitor compliance and suggest sustainable riverfront planning. Regular public reporting and accountability mechanisms would help restore confidence. By acting firmly now, the government has an opportunity to turn a crisis into a blueprint for ecological renewal and resilient urban planning.