Mir Mudasir
For the first time, the government is taking serious initiatives to preserve the water bodies and beautiful lakes in J&K especially in Kashmir. This is one of the steps which will be written with golden words by the environmentalists who have been knocking every door to get our water bodies safeguarded.
It’s an irony that Kashmir Valley has either lost its springs to pollution, global warming or encroachments. The lakes which were known for its placid and serene waters present a shabby look owing to pollution as well as encroachment especially in the years when there was complete breakdown in the Valley due to militancy. Despite spending crores the lakes, springs and other water bodies never got restored. In fact many springs, especially in the countryside, vanished.
However an initiative under the leadership of J&K’s Lt Governor Manoj Sinha is now giving new lease of life to these water bodies and along with non governmental organisations the government has already taken the mission seriously, not only water bodies have been restored but the plans are in the offing to get around 3600 water bodies restored completely which is one of the biggest achievements once accomplished.
Recently, Lt Governor Lt Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off an event titled ‘Athwas’, a unique partnership between citizens and authorities for the rejuvenation of the Dal Lake. Under the project, de-weeding and dredging of the water body will be carried out in collaboration with the citizens.
On this occasion Sinha said the government with the help of central assistance is planning to clean 3,600 water bodies across UT this year.
“Several activities are happening (on the tourism front), 3,500 shikaras row the lake each day and I think no activity can be bigger than that. Around 400-500 (tourists) arrive here every day. The number of flights has increased. For some, it is difficult to get a ticket to Srinagar just two-three days before (the travel date). Hotels are booked. We are thinking about having more hotels here,” Sinha said while highlighting the importance of clean and preserved water bodies for the boost of tourism. The J&K is already witnessing a tourism boom and the tourist arrival in the first three months of the year has been very encouraging.
Sinha said the Dal Lake has become cleaner and will be restored to its pristine glory soon.
“The people as well as the administration here have vowed to keep Dal Lake, which is the cultural and historical heritage of the city. People from all over the world want to visit the lake. The average citizen now feels that the lake has become cleaner than before.
“There are provisions for Rs 136 crore in the budget for cleaning the lake. Money had come before as well, but I do not think it was utilised as it is being done now. The lake has become better and the change is visible,” Sinha said.
He added that money has been deposited in the DBT mode into the accounts of those cleaning the lake, which has led to a change in their economic and social lives and also ensured the cleaning of the lake on a war footing.
On the conservation of Wular Lake, Sinha said that a walkway is proposed to be built along the lake which will enhance the beauty of Wular and also help in preventing encroachment along it.
The lakes like Dal, Wular, Nageen and Anchar in Kashmir are the finest water bodies unfortunately these water bodies not only get polluted but also encouraged. However, now the restoration process has been undertaken very effectively and seriously and results will be soon visible. Under the Wular conservation project, a large portion of Asia’s largest fresh water lake presents a beautiful picture in the backdrop of majestic mountains. The work on Dal lake is already underway. The lake is one of the main tourist attractions in UT.
After three decades a dying lake has been revived in Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar owing to a collaborative effort of locals, environmentalists and government.
Khushal Sar, situated between Hawal and Zadibal in Old City and part of a historic water circuit of pristine lakes in Srinagar like Dal, Nigeen, Gilsar and Anchar, had turned into a cesspool in the past 30 years.
Just three months ago, people would walk on its surface in places which were covered with weeds and floating land masses even as sewage drained into the water body. The lake was dotted with animal wastes, plastics and sewage while many of its sides had been encroached upon.
In late February, a local environmental NGO, Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) took the initiative of cleaning the water body by hiring a machine, workers and boats. The organisation was promptly supported by the divisional administration which provided the trucks to clear the muck and silt. Now the lake has been restored and encroachment removed.
The intent of the government is serious as to intensify conservation efforts such as geo-tagging water bodies, restoration of ecological balance of marine ecosystems, testing water quality, grading water bodies on monitoring parameters for effective follow-ups, and putting in place a district-level grievance redressal mechanism have been done effective that could have encouraging results in coming months and years.
Not only lakes but the wetlands which host lakes of migratory birds or avian visitors are being geo tagged and demarcated and encroachment removed. These wetlands host an abundance of birds, flora and fuana and could become major tourist spots or attractions. “It seems the government is first time very serious to preserve our water bodies and results will be achieved only when administration will take it seriously and first time this is happening and this is one of the biggest steps taken so far that is appreciable,” said Ishfaq Ahmad a bird watcher and environmental expert.
Environmentalist and filmmaker Jalal Jeelani said water bodies in J&K are in real trouble because of interferences in and around their natural ecosystem. “The once lively wetlands are drying up, turning into drainage carriers or being converted into paddy fields, apple orchards and human habitations.”
Jalal who has extensively worked on the Wular, Asia’s second largest freshwater lake, said water bodies such as Wular, Hokersar and Hygam Wetlands, Dal, Nageen and Anchar lakes and Gilsar and Babadem are smelling badly.
“Water bodies which are considered as lungs of the ecosystem have suffered immensely and are nearing extinction. These wetlands not only serve as bird feeding sanctuaries but reservoirs, which ultimately save us from natural calamities,” he said, adding that the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on the water bodies were also at risk.
