Understanding, Mitigating Historical water body -Brari Nambal

History
We have heard tales from our elders about the pristine water bodies of Kashmir, which were once so pure that people would directly drink from the water bodies. Once known for crystal clear waters, the only remains of Brari Nambal are waste heaps and weeds. Brari Nambal, also known as Bab Demb is an important ecological lagoon in the heart of Srinagar city. Commissioned in the 14th century by the then ruler of Kashmir, Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, and according to folklore, the banks would house herbal and therapeutic baths. Since the water body sits in the centre of the city, its role in the city’s water regulation is crucial. Such an important water body that attracted tourists because of its beauty has now turned into a cesspool. Another assault mounted on the water body is in the form of encroachment. From clear water to a stinky dump yard, this transition speaks about the criminal neglect on part of both the people and the government.The Brari Nambal is as crucial as the Dal Lake or any other major water body in Kashmir as it is not just the popularity of a water body that makes it important, but the actual role it plays in the ecosystem of a place. Reversing the effects of pollution and eutrophication are the main points of concern now, simultaneously, getting the dwellers in and around the area rehabilitated and acquiring the lost lagoon land.
Curent situation : Although few attempts were made in the past for its restoration, however, they helped little because they were more of a one-time thing. It is all filth right now, and it stinks. Once again, there is a need to focus on the restoration of this water body, and remind people that Brari Nambal calls for immediate attention. The government needs to collect the threads from the earlier restoration plans and start afresh and people need to develop a civic sense and practice sanitation.The work on this water body must be undertaken with a sense of urgency, and progress must be measured regularly. Frequent dredging needs to be done to keep its water fresh.. The administration should ensure the placement of public dustbins in proper places so that people do not throw their trash into the lake. There is also the need for change in the drainage system so that the household waste does not drain into the lake. Further efforts are needed to be made to protect and conserve the local fauna and the flora. The administration also has a new program for the restoration, dubbed “Urban Renewal of Nallah-i-Mar and Brari Nambal” under the Srinagar Smart City project. This program aims to serve cosmetic purposes more than anything, as per the goals for the program listed on their official website:
✓ Construction of food court
✓ Beautification of Brari Numbal road near Sheri Khas gate.
✓ Construction of pathways inside and around the lagoon.
✓ Construction of Kiosks in the flea market.
Encroachment: In order to drain excess water from the Dal Lake into the river Jhelum, the Brari Nambal serves as an outfall channel, but encroachments and pollution have damaged it.Locals claim that due to a lack of conservation measures, the lagoon has become a cesspool. The water body has been severely damaged by trash mounds, irritating vegetation, and widespread encroachment.The lagoon is no longer in its former pristine beauty and has dwindled to about 0.30 square kilometres.Its state is a stark illustration of the government’ disregard for the preservation of our natural resources. Waste management and removal of encroachments are also important aspects of the restoration process. Construction of walkways and by the government is ineffective unless encroachments and sewage infiltration are halted. Brari Nambal has lost almost 10 hectares in the past more than 40 years, according to the research by Kashmir University’s Department of Environmental Science. This has caused the spread of open water to decline and the growth of macrophytes to explode. A significant portion of its waters are covered in weeds. On the Baba Demb side, the water body has experienced significant encroachment. For the building of settlements, whose untreated sewage is directly dumped into the wetland, the marshy area near the southern edge of the wetland is endlessly encroached upon and filled with earthen and solid waste items. In order to stop the encroachment, the JKLDA is negotiating with the residents for the encroached area, but purchasing the land is a bit tough since some are seeking big amounts which just cannot be paid by the government according to Feroz Mir, Chief Executive Engineer of the JKLDA’s Lake Division 1.
Pollution level: We are losing Brari Nambal with each passing day. Unabated pollution is severely affecting its fragile eco-system. As reported by environmentalist Dr. Kundangar, a putrefaction process is taking place in the lagoon. Brari Nambal is stanching from the production of hydrogen sulphide fumes as a result of the high bacterial load caused by the influx of sewage.As per the residents, the pollution in the lagoon is bringing tremendous inconvenience to them.Additionally, the area’s contaminated water body has led to health risks. In recent studies, the Brari Nambal Lagoon’s WQI value was determined to be 77.57, indicating that the water quality was extremely poor and it falls under grade “D” by using significant physico-chemical parameters. Brari Nambal becomes a cesspool as a result of receiving a significant amount of untreated sewage from the sewage treatment plants (STPs) on the southern bank in addition to sewage and garbage from the nearby catchment areas. But in addition to them, the adjoining areas are filled with automotive repair shops, scrap dealers and plant nurseries which ultimately increase the pollution level in the lagoon as it is used as a sewage dumps over the years and now act as a fertilizers, which paint a contrasting image for this area.
Conclusion: It is an unattainable objective in Kashmir valley to create, specify, and put into effect policies for the management and protection of wetland habitats. The preservation of Brari Nambal, in my opinion, might have served as a template for the restoration of all other water bodies in the Kashmir valley. We should take two stages for the restoration of this lagoon. In order to achieve a short-term goal, we should be cleaning this lagoon in phases and taking steps to encourage more and more people to participate for the restoration. In addition, we should run awareness campaigns in the nearby area every 15 days. We can also work with the government to address the encroachments and the drainage system issues in order to achieve our long-term objectives.
( The author is an engineer by profession. Views are his own)