The Green Revolution: Saving Dal Lake in Kashmir
NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has taken a significant step towards preserving the beauty of Dal Lake in Kashmir. A panel has been formed to address the urgent issue of pollution affecting this iconic water body.
The deteriorating condition of Dal Lake has raised concerns, prompting the green panel to take action. It has been observed that immediate measures are necessary to prevent pollutants, especially untreated sewage, from entering the lake.
In a recent order, the NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava emphasized the need to tackle the flow of untreated sewage into Dal Lake. Reports from the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee revealed alarming levels of pollutants, including high concentrations of Bio-Chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and coliform bacteria.
The situation in Dal Lake’s backflow channels, Nayadar and Jogilankar, was described as “almost anaerobic” with a high organic load. The existing sewage treatment plants were found to be ineffective, further exacerbating the pollution problem.
To combat this environmental crisis, the NGT has established a joint committee comprising key stakeholders from various agencies. This committee will investigate the sources of pollution, hold responsible parties accountable, and develop comprehensive environmental management guidelines for houseboats on the lake.
The tribunal has set a deadline of three months for the committee to complete its assessment and propose solutions. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for December 2.
