What is Karewa? [UPSC Geography Notes]

Karewas are lacustrine deposits [deposits in lakes] in the Valley of Kashmir and in Bhadarwah Valley of the Jammu Division. The Karewa Formation is a Plio-Pleistocene glaciofluvial-lacustrine and aeolian loess, according to geographers. It is critical for agricultural and horticultural practices. In this article, we have discussed Karewa formation, Karewa belts, and their significance, which is highly important for all competitive exams.

This topic is significant for numerous government examinations.

The topic, Karewa is found under GS Paper I Geography syllabus of the UPSC IAS Exam.

About Karewa

• In Kashmiri, the word Karewa means “elevated tableland.” Godwin-Austin (1859) coined the phrase, which was later used by Lydekker (1878), to describe an unconsolidated to semi-consolidated sand-clay-conglomerate succession.
• These are the flat-topped mounds that surround the Kashmir Valley on all sides. They are distinguished by mammal fossils and, in certain locations, by peat.
• These sediments are found as terraces, plateaus, and mounds on top of the Paleozoic-Mesozoic strata of the Kashmir ‘basin.’ The first thorough description of these Quaternary deposits was provided by De Terra and Patterson (1939).
• In other words, these lacustrine deposits have seen and preserved countless human civilizations and habitations.

Learn about the Longitudinal Division of the Himalayas in the linked article.

Formation of Karewa

• Geologists think that the region of Kashmir valley was formerly filled with water from the Tethys Sea during the Pleistocene Period (1 million years ago). The Baramullah Gorge developed as a consequence of endogenetic stresses, and a lake was drained through it.
• The most severe Pleistocene glaciations did not kill Stone Age man. His relics can still be found in the deep soil strata of the plateau areas.
• Sediments continued to flow in from rivers and deposit in the lake, eventually resulting in the formation of a lacustrine plain. Over time, the water drained away, leaving behind deposits such as unconsolidated gravel and sludge. These deposits are referred to as KAREWA.

Spread of Karewa Deposits

• These plateaus are 13,000-18,000 metre-thick deposits of alluvial soil and sediments like sandstone and mudstone.
• It is situated between the Pir Panjal Range and the Great Himalayan Range in Northwest India. These kinds of crews are frequent in the area west of the Jhelum River.
• The Karewa series, which covers roughly 2,500 square kilometres, is found on the Kashmir Valley floor, above the river alluvium, and over the folded Paleozoic-Mesozoic Kashmir Basin rocks.
• The Karewa sediments underpin the majority of the Kashmir Valley’s cultivated regions.

Significance of Karewas

Sand, silt, clay, shale, mud, lignite, gravel, and loessic sediments make up the Karewa deposits. As a result, it is extremely important for agricultural and horticultural practices in the valley.

• Agricultural– On these deposits, the world-famous kind of saffron, known locally as zafron, is cultivated. It also supports the growth of almonds, apples, walnuts and several other cash crops.
  • These karewas are used to cultivate Kashmir saffron, which was designated as a Geographical Indication (GI) in 2020 for its larger and thicker stigmas, deep-red colour, intense scent, and bitter flavour.
• Source of Livelihood: The majority of karewas are held by people who utilise them for farming and grazing, but others are owned by the government.
• Archaeological– Karewa strata include fossils and traces of several human civilisations and habitations, making them of archaeological interest. They are distinguished by mammal fossils and, in certain locations, by peat.

The topic can be asked as a Current Affairs Question in IAS Prelims. To attempt quizzes on current affairs, click on the link.

Threat to Karewas

• Loss Of Heritage – Massive areas of karewas in Pulwama, Budgam, and Baramulla districts were razed between 1995 and 2005 to make way for the Qazigund-Baramulla train route. The Srinagar airport is built on the Damodar karewa in Budgam.
• Prone to Flooding – The destruction of the karewas has resulted in a massive build-up of silt in the Jhelum River, making it prone to floods.
• Permanent Loss – Mining activities in the region like clay mining may lead to permanent loss of Karewas. Because of its geography and physiology, the karewas can never be rebuilt, once lost. The reason is that this region is dominated by mountain ranges made up of hard rocks.

For information on the Development of Latest Information Technology for Farmers, candidates can visit the linked article.

What is Kashmiri Saffron?

Around the 1st century BCE, Central Asian immigrants are said to have introduced saffron cultivation to Kashmir. It is related to traditional Kashmiri cuisine and symbolises the region’s rich cultural history. It is an extremely valuable and expensive commodity. Kashmir saffron got a Geographical Indication (GI) tag status in 2020. Let us learn more about Kashmiri Saffron.

• It is grown and collected in Jammu and Kashmir’s Karewa (highlands).
• Uniqueness – Kashmir saffron is distinguished by its larger and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, strong scent, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, and high concentrations of crocin (colouring strength), safranal (flavour), and picrocrocin (bitterness).
• It is the only saffron cultivated at an elevation of 1,600 to 1,800 metres above mean sea level.
• In Kashmir, three varieties of saffron are available: Lachha Saffron, Mongra Saffron, and Guchhi Saffron.
• Kashmir saffron is a precious and expensive commodity. It is a spice that is well-known around the world. It revitalises health and is useful in cosmetics and medicine. Furthermore, it’s also been linked to traditional Kashmiri food.
• Iran is the world’s greatest producer of saffron.

Read in detail about the National Saffron Mission (NSM) in the linked article.

Get the List of GI Indicators in the linked article.

To know about the Agricultural Revolution in India, candidates can visit the linked article.

Note: As UPSC 2023 approaches, use BYJU’S free Daily Video Analysis of The Hindu Newspaper to augment your preparation.

Related Links-