“Not Only J&K LCMA but J&K Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) also owes explanation for failing to notice the increasing water pollution in Dal Lake.”
The recent action of National Green Tribunal (NGT) over water pollution in world famous Dal Lake is in itself a wakeup call for the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (J&K LCMA) given the fact that NGT has directed the committee constituted by it to investigate the sources of contamination and recommend remedial measures obviously for tackling the crisis of water pollution in Dal Lake. The job entrusted to the committee by NGT could have been taken up by J&K LCMA much before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took notice of the deteriorating condition of the Dal Lake. Interestingly the condition of other lakes particularly Nigeen Lake, Khushalsar Lake and Wular Lake is also deteriorating day by day. While the reports suggest that untreated sewage is the main cause of water pollution in Dal Lake, the J&K LCMA owes lot of explanations for leaving the sewage untreated despite warnings from National Green Tribunal (NGT) for years together. Not Only J&K LCMA but J&K Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) also owes explanation for failing to notice the increasing water pollution in Dal Lake. Now when the NGT has asked the committee to submit its report on pollution in Dal Lake in a short span of three months, the J&K LCMA has still enough time to take corrective measures for the treatment of sewage not only in Dal Lake but also in other water bodies particularly Nigeen Lake, Khushalsar Lake and Wular Lake. In fact the NGT action has brought under public scanner not only the working of J&K LCMA but the whole urban planning in Kashmir as allegations are galore that Srinagar City’s 85% of sewage flows into Dal Lake. Public criticism over pollution in Dal and Wular Lakes always leads to criticism of urban planning in Kashmir not just today but for last more than a decade now.
“J&K Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) always under scanner over the procedures it has adopted for issuing NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to Hotels & Houseboats is also a member of the Committee formed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) and as such it is the right time for the NGT to seek clarifications even from the J&K Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) over its failures in overseeing the sewage treatment facilities in Dal Lake and other such water bodies of Kashmir Valley. So besides J&K Lake & Conservation Management Authority (J&K LCMA) the J&K Pollution Control Committee also owes explanations over pollution in Dal Lake.”
The failures of urban planning not getting as much attention as they deserved for decades together as such deserve immediate attention and intervention of the Government as Dal Lake , Nigeen Lake, Khushalsar Lake and Wular Lake are not just lakes but also symbols of local heritage in Kashmir. So the NGT action is as good a deepening concern for the Tourism and Culture Departments as it is for the J&K Lake Conservation & Management Authority (J&K LCMA) an autonomous organisation falling under the administrative control of Housing & Urban Development Department of Jammu & Kashmir Government. J&K Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) always under scanner over the procedures it has adopted for issuing NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to Hotels & Houseboats is also a member of the Committee formed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) and as such it is the right time for the NGT to seek clarifications even from the J&K Pollution Control Committee (J&K PCC) over its failures in overseeing the sewage treatment facilities in Dal Lake and other such water bodies of Kashmir Valley. So besides J&K Lake & Conservation Management Authority (J&K LCMA) the J&K Pollution Control Committee also owes explanations over pollution in Dal Lake.
