Srinagar: There is a dire need to stop sewage and polluted water flow into the Dal Lake to save the water body, a Committee of Experts on Dal Lake has told in its report submitted to J&K High Court.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rashid Ali Dar directed for the report to be shared with Chief Secretary of the state for immediate examination.
The report submitted on October 10 has highlighted major issues responsible for rapid deterioration of Dal Lake.
If the lake is to be restored to its original position, the report said, there is dire need to stop sewage and polluted water flowing into the lake.
It states that about 70 percent of sewage generated in Srinagar city finds its way into the lake with only three sewage treatment plants (STPs) functioning under the control of LAWDA.
“These are heavily over-utilized, with the result their effluents are far below the present day standards laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board,” the report said.
To stop sewage from houseboats, the report recommends sewage receptacles to be fitted with a sewage pumps to route effluents to a land based bio-digester tank working on DRDO technology. It also recommends that the land in Dole Demb should be earmarked so that around 150 houseboats can be moved there.
The report calls for boundary demarcation of the lake to stop encroachments, and asks for protecting catchments.
“The basic water management principle for any water body to stay clean and protected is to ensure that there is adequate inflow of fresh water that helps in rejuvenation and reducing the impact of the pollutants,” the report said.
It also recommends that relocation and rehabilitation of encroachers be decided once and for all for restoring the lake to its old grandeur besides keeping a check on floating gardens emanating pollution, solid waste management, de-weeding and disposal of weeds and proper dredging of the lake.

NUSRAT SIDIQ