Severe situation of Dal Lake, Kashmir (Case study)
Severe situation of Dal lake, Kashmir (Case Study), Pacific institute of hotel management, Udaipur, Volume-4, Issue-8, July-Dec.’16, ISSN 2320-1398
Abstract : Dal lake is known as jewel of Kashmir valley and it work as a pull factor for lakhs of tourists every year. However Dal lake has lost its beauty what it had until 1980’s. Several reasons are responsible for the miserable condition of Dal lake. Data were collected by multi-methods approach both primary and secondary resources were involved. Locals and students were interviewed in Srinagar city and several news portals, journals was also observed. The findings of the research indicate that most of politicians had made misuse and made lot of money on the name of development of Dal lake. This case study will provide useful findings for policymakers to improve the existing condition policies for lake.
Introduction
Dal Lake is situated in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar is known as paradise on earth and Dal lake is jewel of this paradise. Dal lake is among one of world’s famous tourist spots and known for its Shikara ride and Houseboats. Dal lake work as pull factor for domestic as well as international tourists and it give employment to thousands of kashmiri population
Condition of lake (Dying in front of our eyes)
In 1980’s lake was known for its cleanliness and peoples use to drank water from it but now situation is not the same infact it is more than weard. Earlier until 1980’s Dal lake covered 25square kilometers with 17 feet depth and now area reduced to 12 square kilometers with 9 feet depth of polluted water.
The water quality of lake has spoiled consistently in last 3 decades and its size has shrinked to almost half in past 50 years.
Lake has lost its natural beauty as well which lake had in 1980’s and what Lake deserve today.
Whom can we blame for this miserable condition of Jewel – The local population, Tourists or the Government.
The locals are selfishly cultivating on grass islands within lake, living within lake premises, constructing near lake or in simple words they are spoiling their Jewel by their own hands.
Tourists are also not least bothered about security of lake they dump garbage in lake without any fear.
The Government – It is not like that government don’t like to invest for protection and conservation of lake, infact government had already spent more than Rs 1000 crores in various Dal projects, infact several projects are still going on but allotted amount has not reached its destination due to some anti-social elements. Few delegates treat Dal lake as money making machine.
Problem
Human habitation – More than 50000 peoples live in houseboats and islands within dal lake.
Agricultural activities – Water areas are converted into floating gardens for cultivation and habitation purpose, which is hazard to ecology and these islands are growing with addition of approximately 100 more islands every year which choke the lake.
Unstructured development of tourism – Around 42% of workers in Srinagar are engaged in tourist activities of lake but nothing is organized. Houseboat which is known as pride of lake is still fighting for proper sanitation resolution. Lot of tourists stay in houseboats every year but sanitation problem has not resolved even after 18 years. Infact increase in number of houseboats has increase the the problem. 2 biolets was imported from USA in 1988 (Rs. 2 crore) which was also proved useless.
Illegal construction - Commercial/household construction is banned in Dal lake or within 200 meters of Dal premises but few peoples are least bothered to follow this rule.
Weeds - Growth of exotic weeds caused the explosive growth of pest plants. Approximately 4000-5000 tons of dead material is added to lake every year.
Water quality - Water of lake has also polluted with passage of time and polluted water give birth to lot of human diseases and loss to flora and fauna.
Natural Disaster - Recent flood in September 2014 brought tons of silt and sewage in Dal lake from Jhelum’s water which has impacted flora and fauna of Dal lake.
Traces of Petrol and Diesel were also found in lake after the flood.
Nehru park, one of the famous garden situated within the lake was almost covered with water as water level of lake was raised to 21 feet’s, usual level of lake is 9 feet’s while danger level is 21 feet’s.
Sewage Treatment plan - Due to leakage in pipes of sewage treatment plan, unorganized sewage plan has polluted the lake. Untreated sewage of Srinagar also enter into Dal lake.
In-discipline among houseboat owners - Approximately 3000-4000 houseboats have established so far in dal lake while only 500-600 houseboat owners have registered their houseboats.
(Multiple sources - Shahab Fazal, Arshad Amin, Journal on environmental protection 2011, Kashmirfirst.com, Downtoearth.org)
STEPS TAKEN
Even after several great initiatives taken by central, state governments and several NGO’s concern is still alive due to some reasons. Aid is not been supplied due to some leakages.
Government of J&K has established a body Jammu Kashmir lake water development authority (JKLWDA) under development act,1970. JKLWDA was created with a vision to manage and conserve the water bodies and waterways of J&K. But so far JKLWDA has been moving like tortoise.
A consultancy group was called in 1977 under common wealth fund to recommend ways for improvement of Dal lake, Although group has provided several recommendations but nothing has been implemented so far.
After a long time union ministry of environment and forest in 1977 started an ambitious project “SAVE DAL PROJECT” worth Rs.500 crore.
Then lot of interventions, change of consultancies, political situation etc doesn’t allow this project to work smoothly and achieve its objective.
Further in 2005, high court of J&K directed that any construction within Dal lake and within 200 meters of Dal lake and in green belt is prohibited and anyone found guilty will be immediately taken into custody.
Central and state government had already spend crores of rupees on Dal lake and lot of projects are still going on under supervision of JKLWDA however no solid result has achieved yet.
Please find below the list and cost of projects taken care by JKLWDA
|
S.No.
|
Sewerage & Component
|
Cost
|
Source of Funding
|
|
Part – I (Conservation) (Amount in Crores)
|
|||
|
1.
|
Conservation & Management Programme
|
298.76
|
MoEF, GOI under NLCP
|
|
2.
|
Conservation and Mgt. Prog (Acq. of land/Structures within lake and dredging/procurement of lake cleaning machines
|
356.00
|
PMPRP
|
|
3.
|
Laterals/House Connectivity
|
55.00
|
State Plan (not provided in the NLCP norms)
|
|
4.
|
Conservation of Brari-Numbal (incl. Aqc. of land)
|
27.00
|
State Plan
|
|
|
Sub Total
|
736.76
|
|
|
Part – II Rehabilitation & Resettlement
|
|||
|
A.
|
Rakhi Arth
|
402.00
|
State Plan/JNNURM - HUPA, GOI
|
|
|
Grand Total
|
1138.76
|
|
(Source - Jklwda.org)
Around 1200 houseboats around Dal and Nagin lake in the valley have been made non-operational by JKLWDA for contributing in reduction of pollution in Lake.
Post spending crores of rupees on several projects and moreover lot of actions was also taken like implementation of prohibition for cultivation, construction, human habitation in lake premises, installation of water plant for lake but problem is still alive and needs to be strictly adhere along with other remedies.
Since political system of J&K has not stablized yet since independence of our country which has resulted into instable political atmosphere in the state of J&K which parralely affect the development projects of dal lake too.
The beauty of Kashmir valley especially former Dal lake has become its worst enemy and this beauty is the only reason for today’s miserable condition of city and lake. If Kashmir had been a place looking like other states of India then Pakistan would not vied for it with the same passion then it has.
(Source - Agony of Dal Lake: Kashmir’s Soul under Pressure by Maharaj Kaul,2012, page-15)
SUGGESION / RECOMANDATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF LAKE
The very first step required is to draft a committee with appointment of dedicated delegates who will be responsible to take care of all projects for development of Dal lake beat state government project or project govern by some other body like JKLWDA basic agenda is to involve maximum interference from central government since political situation of J&K state government is not reliable.
The government may take initiative to install mini-sewage units in houseboats which cost Rs. 2.5lakh for each unit since every houseboat owner is not financially sound to afford this unit so rather than spoiling money here and there government can offer this unit for free of cost to registered houseboat owners, moreover this will help government to register more number of houseboats, since every houseboat is not registered yet.
The next major threat to Dal lake is human habitation inside lake premises which contribute majority of wastage inside Dal lake what required is to remove entire human habitation from and within 200 meters of lake.
The next plan of action what I think is to reserve front area of lake for Shikara ride and Houseboats need to shit to back water areas.
Now let’s talk about the major area of concern – The tourist flow, since tourism flow is seasonal and majority of domestic tourists visit Srinagar from month of March till July. The city and especially the lake & houseboats become too congested in those days because of heavy tourist flow (more than the limit of city) which result into heavy pollution which create mess in the lake hence there is a major requirement to set carrying capacity of tourists in the city and lake authorities need to analyze and set a limit of Houseboats vs Tourists in lake as lake has limited carrying capacity.
Conservation / Maintenance - Repair and maintainance of water treatment plant on regular basis in and around Dal lake premises is core requirement of the lake.
Distillation - Distillation of lake to remove silt and impurities from lake is must required after every certain interval.
Plan of action required - As construction and farming has already banned in and around (200 meters) of lake so government has to take strict action against culprits as single example may threat others.
CONCLUSION
Dal lake, the jewel of Kashmir valley, the attraction of worldwide tourists is fighting for justice since last century. Condition of lake has become more than worst in past few years basically lake is dying and authorities are doing nothing to protect lake. The localities, tourists and authorities are spoiling the beauty of lake. The lake has lost its beauty what it deserves and lake may disappear in next 50years if it kept ignored like this. Various factors are responsible for destruction of lake which includes Human habitation, Agricultural activities, unstructured development of tourism, Illegal construction, Weeds, Flood, Sewage issues, Houseboats etc.
Even though several initiatives were taken and a dedicated body (JKLWDA) was also established to protect lakes in J&K , Crores of amount was also released but nothing comes out because of instable political system of state.
There is inevitable need of taking necessary steps towards improvement and development of Dal lake. Which include installation of mini sewage units in houseboats in order to avoid sanitation and water pollution problems, removal of human habitation and cultivation activities from lake premises, need to set tourist carrying capacity of the city and lake, distillation and purification of lake water is must required after certain intervals.
REFERENCES
I. Impact of urban land transformation on water bodies in Srinagar city by Shahab Fazal, Arshad Amin, Journal on environmental protection,2011
II. Jammu Kashmir lake and water development authority (jklwda.org)
III. Agony of Dal Lake: Kashmir’s Soul under Pressure by Maharaj Kaul,2012
IV. Water Of India (Quality & Quantity) By G.K. Ghosh, 2002
VI. Cseindia.org
VII. Downtoearth.org
VIII. Indianexpress.com
IX. Slugpost.org
X. Mapsofindia.com
XI. Kashmirfirst.com
XII. Tribuneindia.com
XIII. Downtoearth.org
XIV. Greaterkashmir.com
It's a very informative article.
ReplyDelete