Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 26: The expert committee constituted by the high court has enumerated many reasons for pollution of the Dal Lake, the world famous tourist body of Jammu and Kashmir.
"It is estimated that a population of around 40,000-70,000 resides in the Dal interiors, in the hamlets, in pucca and kuchha houses, in the constructions that are adjunct to the house-boats, in the house-boats and in the dunga boats. The sewage generated by all these persons, including night soil, sullage and solid waste are all released into the Lake," the committee said.
The committee comprised among others Dr. Nivedita P. Haran (Former Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Gover-nment of Kerala), Dr. Mangu Singh, CEO, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, New Delhi, M. C. Mehta, Renowned Environmental-ist, who hails from the Jammu and Kashmir State , Elattuvalapil Sreedharan, (IES Retd., Former Chairperson, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Member, Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
According to latest figures, the committee said, the Dal Lake hosts 910 registered house boats. On an average 16 guests and four service persons reside on each houseboat when fully rented.
These houseboats do not have any sewage facility and therefore discharge all waste that includes night soil, solid waste and sullage into the Lake. There are also 140 dunga boats that house those persons who service the houseboat and where the cooking, etc. for the guests is done.
Regarding floating gardens, the committee said that in recent times, the area cultivated has expanded leading to coverage of the water area to an alarming level . "Large proportion of the population living in the hamlets cultivates floating gardens where they grow vegetables such as radish, cucumber, turnip, egg plant, white beans and lotus stem. These cultivators rely on the sale of produce and in order to increase production use substantial quantity of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This is a major source of pollution in the Lake."
On existing Sewage Treatment Plants, the committee said: "There are six sewage treatment plants that have the designed capacity to treat 53.8 MLD. As against this, the actual treatment is of 47.8 in MLD leaving an unutilized capacity of 6 MLD. The STPs are based on FAB." |
