Dal Lake – environmental degradation and conservation challenges

Why in news ?

Policy shift in conservation

• J&K government shelved the ₹416.72-crore Dal restoration plan (approved 2009) and proposed an in-situ conservation approach, allowing dwellers to continue living on the lake.
• The earlier plan targeted relocation of ~9,000 families, but only 1,808 families were rehabilitated in 17 years, achieving about 27% of intended conservation outcomes.

Basics and static context

Location and physical features

• Dal Lake is an urban freshwater lake in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, fed by springs and channels from the Zabarwan range, historically covering ~22–25 sq km including marshes and floating gardens.
• It is divided into basins like Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal and Nigeen, with interconnected channels; shallow depth and slow flushing make it naturally vulnerable to pollution accumulation.

Ecological and economic significance

• Dal Lake supports tourism, fisheries, lotus cultivation and houseboat livelihoods, forming a key part of Kashmir’s economy and cultural identity.
• It functions as an urban ecological buffer, moderating microclimate, supporting biodiversity, and storing floodwaters in the Jhelum basin.

Environmental pressures

Sewage and pollution load

• Untreated sewage from households, hotels and houseboats enters the lake through point and non-point sources; SKUAST (2022) flagged “extreme pollution loads” and deteriorating water quality.
• High organic load raises BOD and nutrient levels, accelerating eutrophication, a pattern also observed in other urban lakes like Bengaluru’s Bellandur.

Eutrophication and weed growth

• Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage and fertilisers cause algal blooms and macrophyte overgrowth, choking open water and reducing dissolved oxygen for fish.
• Proliferation of weeds like Eichhornia (water hyacinth) reduces water spread and impedes navigation and recreation.

Catchment degradation

• Deforestation, grazing and agriculture in the catchment increase silt and nutrient inflow, shrinking effective water area and altering lake morphology.
• Land use change in the Zabarwan foothills has increased runoff and sedimentation, a common driver of lake ageing.

Encroachment and population pressure

• Expansion of settlements, houseboats and floating gardens (raad) leads to encroachment and solid waste generation, converting water areas into marshy land.
• Urban lakes worldwide show similar stress where shoreline regulation is weak, e.g., Dal-like pressures on Nainital Lake.

Reduced inflows and circulation

• Blocked or reduced inflows and internal channels lower water circulation and flushing, concentrating pollutants and accelerating stagnation.
• Hydrological fragmentation disrupts natural self-cleansing capacity of the lake.

Invasive species and biodiversity loss

• SKUAST noted invasive plants and animals altering native biodiversity; invasive macrophytes outcompete native flora and change habitat structure.
• Biodiversity simplification reduces ecological resilience and fisheries productivity.

---