SRINAGAR: Dal Lake, which once spanned over 22 square kilometres in the heart of Srinagar, has now shrunk to a mere 18 square kilometres, and struggles against an escalating environmental crisis.
Rampant sewage dumping poses a grave threat to the lake’s ecosystem, which supports a rich variety of aquatic species and sustains thousands of livelihoods.
The iconic Dal Lake serves as the nucleus of Kashmir’s tourism, but scientists, environmentalists, and local communities are now worried about its deteriorating health. Reports suggest that the situation has now reached at the critical tipping point.
According to the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism development corporation (JKTDC) web portal, “approximately US $275 million (11 billion) are being made by the Government of India to restore the lake and its adjacent places to its original splendour.”
However, experts warn that despite this spending, the Dal Lake is not regaining its original shape because of the incessant internal and external sewage dumping.
Incomplete Projects, Impact of sewage on water quality
Despite decades of conservation efforts and crores of rupees spent, Dal Lake’s water quality continues to decline, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of ongoing projects.
According to a recent study published in the Academia.edu, the lake’s ecosystem is under severe stress due to mismanagement, incomplete projects, and unscientific practices.
“The settling basin at the lake’s entry point, designed to trap silt, has lost 43% of its efficiency due to decades of neglect and lack of periodic desilting.”
The incomplete peripheral sewerage scheme along the western shoreline, under construction for 35 years, contributes 30% of sewage ingress. Additionally, 58 hamlets and 700 houseboats continue to drain untreated sewage into the lake, adding another 10%, the report added
The Dal Lake conservation plan suffers from critical gaps, including the neglect of key areas like Brari-Numbal and Chuntikhul, indecisiveness on rehabilitating lake dwellers, and a lack of data on aquatic weeds and land use.
Changing water quality of Lakes
Houseboat waste management remains unresolved, with past efforts like floating septic tanks failing. Without addressing these issues, the plan’s effectiveness remains questionable, the paper argues.
Studies reveal alarming levels of pollution in Dal Lake. According to data from the Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), over 70% of the sewage generated in Srinagar flows untreated into Dal Lake. This includes domestic waste, human excreta, and harmful chemicals that seep into the water body daily.
Another study of 2022 study titled ‘The changing water quality of lakes—a case study of Dal Lake, Kashmir Valley’ by SKAUST-K states that, “The water quality of Dal Lake has undergone monstrous anthropogenic pressure for the last four decades. Houseboats, STPs, hotels, agricultural practices around the lake, floating gardens, lake encroachment, and other non-point sources have degraded the water quality as well as aesthetic properties of the lake.
“Over the years, the concentration of harmful substances, phosphates, chlorides, and nitrates has increased tremendously. The concentration of total phosphorous has increased from 0.1 to 0.4mg/l in 1997 to about 6mg/l in 2017. Similarly, chlorides have shown a steep increase from 2–2.7mg/l 329 in 2007 to 10.3mg/l in 2017. Other elements like calcium and magnesium have also witnessed an increase,” the study points out.
“The lake’s alkalinity and pH are changing due to which lake waters have been found unfit for drinking and domestic consumption,” it further adds.
Extinction of Local Species: a downward trend.
The unchecked dumping of human waste has already put native fish species – schizothorax (locally known as the "Kashir Gaad or “snow trout”) on the verge of extinction.
“The current study of the fish diversity of Dal Lake, reveals that the overall catch from the lake is dominated by exotic Cyprinus carpio. The native Schizothoracids also called snow trout are showing the decline in abundance from this waterbody, with Schizothorax esocinus represented by 0.3% of total catch, restricted to only site iii (Nishat) of the lake,” the report reads.
Algae: From Vital to Toxic
The lake’s algae, which plays a crucial role in maintaining its ecological balance, have also suffered immensely. While certain types of algae are vital for aquatic life, the excessive nutrients from untreated sewage have led to algal blooms. These blooms, predominantly cyanobacteria, release toxins that not only harm aquatic species but also pose health risks to humans.
“The water is polluted and has impacted the species inside the lake. The water condition is so bad that effluent conductivity and microbial load can be sensed by the pungent smell and turbidity of the water. This has resulted into algal blooms, eutrophication and choking of gills of fish population in Dal Lake,” says Dr Kifayat Hussain, an independent scientist.
He challenges the official claims of treating Dal Lake’s pollution as “biased, over-stated and beyond scientific acceptance.”
In a research paper, he points out that the sewage treatment plants around Dal Lake are failing to meet both Indian national standards and WHO requirements for water quality, despite showing some reduction in contamination levels. While the STPs do achieve significant reductions in biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, conductivity, and various bacterial counts, the final effluent still contains unacceptably high levels of both chemical and microbial contamination, the report points out.
It also points out that the existing treatment processes are only moderately effective, and removing only 52% of overall harmful bacteria - 65% of bacteria from human and animal waste, and 45% of another type of disease-causing bacteria.
Dr Hussain reasons that due to a lack of properly trained technical staff, insufficient monitoring protocols, absence of regular expert oversight and standardized operations, even the existing treatment capabilities are not being utilized to their full potential. He suggests that comprehensive upgrades to both infrastructure and operations are needed to address these shortcomings.
Impact on Local Communities
The pollution crisis extends beyond environmental concerns, impacting the livelihoods of thousands who depend on the lake. Houseboat owners, vegetable growers, and fishermen have borne the brunt of this ecological disaster.
Manzoor Khan, a fisherman who has worked on Dal Lake for over three decades, described the harsh reality: “Fish catch has massively declined. What used to be a source of pride and income has now become a struggle for survival.”
“In the past, we had our native species like Kashir Gaad (schizithorax) in abundance but now it has become a dream,” he added.
Vegetable growers who cultivate nadru (lotus stem) and other produce in the floating gardens face similar challenges. Studies conducted by the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture indicate that vegetables grown in the polluted lake water contain heavy metals such as lead and arsenic, far exceeding safe consumption levels.
A Systemic Failure
Srinagar’s rapid urbanization has outpaced the capacity of existing sewage systems. Unauthorized constructions around the lake have not only encroached upon its area but also contributed to the inflow of untreated sewage.
An article published in International Journal of Chemical Studies in March 2020, talks about a systemic failure. “The functioning of Fluidised Aerobic Bed reactor (FAB) based Sewage treatment plants (STPs) installed to treat and improve wastewaters around Dal Lake is improper. STPs are not only malfunctioning but are exacerbating the problem of Dal Lake’s pollution by bringing a catastrophic consequence as non-point sources of pollution are being made the point source of pollution.”
Community Response
Local activists argue that the government’s efforts are insufficient to address the growing pollution and population pressures.
"The STPs around Dal Lake are malfunctioning, adding a heavy nutrient load that threatens to turn the lake into a sewage pit. If immediate action isn’t taken, the damage could be irreversible. This is a complete failure of the government, as their efforts have yielded no tangible results," Dr. Touseef Ahmad, socio-environmental activist and Chairman of Kashmir Concern told the Kashmir Times.
Residents are equally disappointed with the measures to conserve the lake. "The measures taken by the authorities seem more like token gestures to gain attention rather than concrete steps toward real change. The efforts are slow, and this apathy towards this lake undermines its conservation. What we need is sustained, serious action—not just occasional visits and empty promises," Owais Dar says.
Dal Lake preservation
However, Azlan Ahmad, a houseboat owner, disagrees. “I commend the government's efforts, but preserving the lake requires everyone's participation. Without responsible behaviour from residents, administrative initiatives alone won't succeed," he says.
"While tourists enjoy this heritage site, we must acknowledge our role in its preservation. We've ignored this responsibility for too long," he adds.
For Showkat Ahmad, a shikara owner, the Dal Lake is his lifeline. “In the last 25 years, I have seen a gradual but steady deterioration in the lake. The weeds have not reduced, nor has the pollution,” he says with a sigh.
Showkat elaborates with a personal memory. “I used to drink this water in the past; it was pure and crystal clear, now it smells foul,” he says.
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