The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has expressed its concern regarding the rising pollution levels in Dal Lake and has decided to form a committee to reach a solution. This move was made after the Suo motu passed by the NGT itself worried about the deteriorating condition of the lake due to drainage of untreated municipal waste into the lake.
Dal Lake: A Jewel under threat
Dal Lake, alluded to as the "Jewel of Kashmir," is right now confronting a major natural emergency. The lake, once lauded for its perfect magnificence and run of natural life, is presently in threat due to contamination debilitating its presence. The NGT got to be included taking after the distribution of a report by The Wire titled "The Suffocating Gem - Embroidered artwork of Dal Lake's Decay and the Angling Community's Battle in Kashmir," highlighting the desperate circumstance.
The Tribunal's Directives
A Coram led by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr. A Senthil Vel, emphasized the urgency of addressing the pollution in Dal Lake. In its order dated August 21, 2024, the Tribunal outlined the primary objectives of the newly formed committee:
Sources of Pollution: A Grim Reality
The Tribunal's sessions revealed multiple unsettling discoveries. The Member Secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (J&KPCC) disclosed that untreated domestic sewage continues to pour into Dal Lake from Telbal and Lalbazar. Analysis findings showed significantly elevated levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), total coliform, and fecal coliform in the samples, indicating the seriousness of the pollution.
Furthermore, the issue has been exacerbated by the expansive number of roughly 910 houseboats in Dal and Nigeen Lake. These houseboats as often as possible discharge their sewage specifically into the lake without experiencing any treatment, compounding the contamination levels. The NGT highlighted the significance of fast activity in arrange to halt untreated sewage and other contaminants from streaming into the lake.
Establishment of the Collaborative Committee
To lead the cleanup and regulatory actions, the NGT has formed a Joint Committee with the following members:
1.Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (J&KPCC) secretary
2.Lake Conservation and Management Authority in Srinagar, Deputy Chairperson
3.Deputy Commissioner Srinagar.
4.Chandigarh's Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
5.District Magistrate, Srinagar.
6.Officer nominated by Member Secretary of CPCB is a senior member of CPCB.
Conclusion
The NGT's firm stance provides a ray of hope for the restoration of Dal Lake. The committee will face challenges due to the intricate pollution sources and multiple stakeholders. Nevertheless, there is hope that Dal Lake can regain its status as a representation of Kashmir's natural beauty, with explicit instructions and the support of the NGT.
Guaranteeing the security and preservation of Dal Lake is basic not as it were for the environment but too for the food of the nearby inhabitants who depend on it. The result of this exertion pivots on how well the committee's recommendations are put into activity and the progressing observation of the lake's well-being. It is as it were a matter of time to see on the off chance that this adored treasure of Kashmir can be returned to its past splendor.
TAGS: Dal Lake Pollution National Green Tribunal (NGT) Houseboats Environmental Management Suo Motu Municipal Sewage Remedial Action Joint Committee
