Dal Lake, the jewel of Srinagar, was once famed for its pristine clarity. However, the lake continues to grapple with pollution. While recent government initiatives, such as connecting houseboats to sewage treatment plants, deploying aeration fountains and reviving navigation channels, are steps towards rehabilitation, these efforts must be part of a sustained strategy. The lake’s survival hinges not on individual actors but on systemic reforms, stringent enforcement and a collective reimagining of its role in Kashmir’s future. The tourism industry’s reliance on Dal Lake cannot be denied. For decades, it has been the centrepiece of Kashmir’s allure, drawing travellers seeking the ethereal beauty immortalised in poetry, art and Bollywood films. Movies like Kashmir Ki Kali and Haider have framed the lake as a dreamscape, with its shikaras gliding past lotus-filled marshes and willow-fringed shores. A visit to Kashmir remains incomplete without a stay on a houseboat. Thousands depend on it for livelihoods, from shikara operators and handicraft vendors to hoteliers and farmers tending floating vegetable gardens. Tourism contributes significantly to the region’s revenue, making the lake’s health inseparable from the valley’s economic stability. Yet this very dependence has accelerated its decline. Waste dumping, illegal construction and overexploitation of resources have affected the lake’s ecological fragility. To tackle this, the government must prioritise a multi-pronged approach. First, expanding sewage infrastructure is non-negotiable. While 718 houseboats in Dal and Nigeen Lakes are now connected to STPs, gaps persist. The planned AMRUT-2.0 STP must be expedited to cover remaining households and commercial establishments along the lake’s periphery. Second, stricter regulations are essential. Enforced waste management protocols and penalties for littering could mitigate pressure. The installation of 761 aeration fountains, with 1,300 more planned, demonstrates potential, but these must be paired with rejuvenating natural water inflows blocked by urban encroachment. Third, community engagement is vital. The proposal to involve locals through Mohalla committees for waste monitoring is a start, but empowering these groups with resources and authority could build grassroots stewardship. Additionally, reviving traditional practices, such as the use of willow roots for natural bank stabilisation, could blend ecological wisdom with modern science. Illegal construction remains a persistent threat. The lake’s boundaries have shrunk from 75 square kilometres in the 19th century to under 12 today, with encroachments devouring wetlands and choking channels. A zero-tolerance policy, backed by digital mapping and regular audits, is crucial to halt this erosion. Meanwhile, initiatives like bio-methanation of lake waste and silt removal must be scaled up. The extraction of 140,000 cubic metres of silt is commendable, but continuous dredging, coupled with bans on chemical fertilisers in nearby farms, could reduce nutrient overload that fuels invasive weeds. The deployment of Online Effluent Monitoring Systems at STPs should be expanded to ensure real-time compliance, preventing untreated sewage from seeping back into the lake. The government’s challenge is to ensure that Dal Lake remains both a sustainable ecosystem and a thriving cultural hub. This demands political will, long-term funding, and tie-ups with hydrologists, ecologists and local communities.
Dire Straits
