Govt. Takes Major Steps for Conservation of Dal Lake and Other Water Bodies in Jammu & Kashmir

Jammu, March 5 (RNA) : In a detailed reply to an unstarred question raised by Farooq Shah, MLA Gulmarg, the Jammu & Kashmir government highlighted the significant steps being taken for the conservation of Dal Lake, along with measures for the protection of Anchar, Gilsar, and Wular lakes. The reply was presented by the Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development, during the house proceedings on Wednesday.

The government informed the house that it  has intensified its conservation efforts over the past few years, with work now covering an area of *25.01 square kilometers*for Dal and Nigeen lakes, while a total of 337.17 square kilometers*of lake ecosystem  being actively worked on in a mission mode.

The Lakes and Conservation Management Authority (LCMA) has implemented a large-scale dredging and cleaning operation in Dal and Nigeen lakes. Over the last two years, *6.5 square kilometers of lake area has been dredged, expanding the open expanse of the lakes to **20.3 square kilometers.

 As part of rehabilitation efforts, the government informed the house that it has successfully relocated and rehabilitated *3,108 families*from Dal Lake, providing them with better living conditions away from the fragile ecosystem.

To tackle the growing sewage issue, the government has built **5 STPs** with a total capacity of **36.73 MLD. These plants will treat domestic sewage from areas surrounding Dal and Nigeen lakes. Additionally, natural oxidation ponds treat about 10 MLD** of sewage.

 In collaboration with **NAFED**, the government has undertaken a scientific waste disposal project, along with the installation of *OCEMS*(Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System) at key locations around the lakes, ensuring proper monitoring of water quality.

The government has been also  planting trees in the catchment areas, with

165,000 trees planted in recent years. In addition, *check dams, anti-erosion works* and fencing around sensitive areas are part of broader efforts to protect the fragile ecosystem.

 The government has introduced high-tech solutions for monitoring and protecting the lakes, including the installation of *29 CCTV cameras* for surveillance. The use of drones for lake boundary delimitation and surveys has also been a significant step toward containing encroachments.

The minster also informed the house  that  bathymetric hydrological survey was conducted to understand the depth, water quality, and sediment load in the lakes. This survey will guide future conservation .

In another  significant development, the government has proposed an *Integrated Management Plan* for Dal and Nigeen lakes, with a *₹263 crore  DPR. The project, which is part of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP)*, aims to address issues such as sewage management, catchment management, and silt mitigation over a five-year period. The DPR was approved by *IIT Roorkee* and accepted by the *Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)* and the *Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)* A total of *₹212.38 crore will be allocated for the project.