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| Dying Dal crying for help, Huge spending without results | | |  Mustansir
Srinagar, Mar 7: Despite the fact that a colossal amount had been spent on the conservation of Dal Lake, there hardly seems any palpable change. Experts point out the lack of expertise and non-technical methods implemented by the authorities especially in regard to the prevention on the growth of weeds which according to an authoritative survey is responsible for the deterioration of Dal Lake as a major setback to the conservation program. Even after the inception and implementation of various projects the growth of weed in Dal Lake is increasing, encroachment is increasing, water quality is degrading.
According to the economic survey 2012-13, the GOI has sanctioned Rs. 298.76 crore under Dal Nagin Lake Conservation and management Plan 2005-06. Besides this the State government has transferred land measuring 7565 kanals at Rakh-i-Arth to Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA) for rehabilitation of Dal dwellers. The Planning Commission of GOI has approved the project, Rehabilitation and resettlement of Slum Dwellers Dal and Nigeen lakes, Srinagar under Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) costing Rs. 356 crores and first installment of Rs. 83.18 crores, has been released for its utilization during the current financial year, 2012-13. Under the Conservation and Management Plan for Dal Lake, out of the sanctioned cost of Rs. 298.76 crores an amount of Rs. 215.36 crores has been incurred up to 10/2012.
However, despite spending such hefty amounts under various projects the ground realities reflect that damage has neither been undone nor is under control. Pertinently, the High Court only yesterday directed the government to file compliance report with regard to slew of directions passed by it in response to Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking conservation of famed Dal Lake.
Under the various developmental activities going on under the conservation project one, the removal of weeds has came under heavy criticism because of the mechanical harvesting method adopted by the authorities to remove the weed. In the economic survey the government claims that 115980 cubic meter of weeds has been removed. However, experts point out that the single and non-technical method of machine harvesting adopted by the authorities is not working as, they point out, removal is not an option. According to an international survey, it is said that if weeds cover more than 25% of the surface of a lake then there should be implementation of weed control. Moreover, the fecal wastes of livestock present around the Dal Lake and other pollutants around the surface add as manure to the weeds and facilitate its rapid growth. Secondly, the agricultural activities undertaken by the inhabitants of Dal also contribute to the growth of weed. In the interiors of Dal the small pieces of agricultural land with trees along the borders, which shed leaves and branches into the water adds to the build-up of organic bottom trash.
The use of fertilizers on agricultural land is hazardous as ultimately the fertilizers are drained off in the lake and again manure the sediments of the deadly weeds.
The experts have also suggested the use of white Amur fish (grass carp), a weed eating fish that are native to the Amur river of China and Russia with ability to control moss and weeds at a wider range of temperatures than most other fish and which have been utilized widely across the world in order to regain the dying lakes and presented successful results in places like Arizona. A three kilogram white amur can eat nearly three-quarters of its weight in weeds every day. While the machine cleaning of weeds has become a rare occurrence in other countries since the fish were introduced, the government, in economic survey, has talked about the deployment of 3 Aqua Truxor for the purpose of weed harvesting.
From its original 75 sq km; Dal has shrunk to 25 sq km in area and from 45 ft to 20 ft in depth. The continuing activities in and around the Dal which habitats almost 50,000 people who demand property rights on 300 hectares of agricultural land and 670 hectares of water area have posed huge challenges to the authorities.
Though the government claims, in economic survey, targeting of 20 sewage lines but number of establishments mushroomed around the Dal such as commercial buildings, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses without proper drainage facilities and the missing of any work on these lines negates the claims.
Moreover the thousands of houseboats that host a major chunk of our tourist influx are still without any sewage solution after so many of years of inception of Dal Lake conservation and Management Plan. |
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