Srinagar, Apr 16 : Manzoor Qadri, Vice Chairman of the Lake Conservation and Management Authority Manzoor Qadri on Thursday said that nearly 95 percent of houseboats operating on Dal Lake are now connected to sewage treatment systems.
Qadri said the linkage of houseboats to treatment infrastructure has reduced the direct discharge of waste into the lake, a problem that had persisted for years.
“Untreated sewage should not enter the lake under any circumstances,” he said. “All wastewater generated within the lake and its catchment is diverted to Sewage Treatment Plants and treated as per standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board.”
Qadri said six Sewage Treatment Plants are currently functional in the Dal Lake area, with five managed by LCMA and one by the Urban Environmental Engineering Department. Even treated discharge, he said, complies with environmental norms.
While sewage control has seen progress, Qadri said maintaining the lake requires continuous intervention.
Authorities are using machines to remove lily pads from open sections, while manual de-weeding continues in narrow channels where machines cannot operate, he said.
He also said that a system is also in place for regular collection of solid waste from the lake’s surface to prevent accumulation and impact on water quality.
“These measures are part of an ongoing cycle,” he said. “The lake requires continuous attention rather than periodic clean-ups.”
On concerns about encroachment, Qadri said there is no active encroachment at present. He said enforcement teams respond to complaints to prevent any violation from taking hold.
Tourist inflow, particularly during the Tulip Garden season, has increased movement into Dal Lake through houseboats and motorboats, he added.
Qadri said this supports the local economy but also requires regulation.
“The challenge is to ensure that tourism growth does not translate into ecological stress,” he said.
Qadri said communities living within the lake are part of conservation efforts through regular outreach and engagement. Legal safeguards, including a 200-meter buffer zone under court directions, are also in place to regulate construction.
“Dal Lake is a heritage asset,” he said. “Its future depends on how responsibly we use it.”(KNS)
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