Govt plans first-ever STPs for Dal Lake dwellers
Srinagar, Apr 23: In a first-of-its-kind initiative to arrest the shrinking of the iconic Dal Lake and improve the living conditions of its inhabitants, the government has proposed setting up dedicated Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) for communities residing within the lake.
Officials said the move marks a significant shift in policy from relocation to in-situ conservation aimed at protecting both the fragile ecosystem and the livelihoods of thousands dependent on the lake.
A senior official of the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) said that, for the first time, authorities are planning separate STPs specifically for lake dwellers. "This initiative is designed not only to reduce pollution levels in Dal Lake but also to ensure that residents can continue their traditional livelihoods with improved living standards," the official said.
He added that the project could also pave the way for allowing long-pending renovation of residential structures on the lake, subject to funding approval. "If funds are cleared, we may permit regulated renovation of houses, which will be a major relief for residents who have lived in uncertainty for years," he said.
Authorities acknowledged that earlier rehabilitation efforts had faced setbacks. "The livelihood of Dal dwellers is intrinsically linked to the lake. Relocating them has not worked effectively. There have been instances where beneficiaries sold allotted land and returned to the lake, complicating conservation efforts," the official noted.
The proposed intervention will be executed under an estimated Rs 212 crore project, with funding expected through the Prime Minister's Development Package (PMDP). A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been prepared and submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs for approval.
Technical validation of the proposal has been carried out by experts from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, lending credibility to the project's feasibility and environmental impact.
The broader conservation blueprint – titled In-situ Conservation of Dal Lake or Integrated Management Plan for Conservation of Dal Lake & Nigeen is expected to directly benefit around 20,000 people living across 58 hamlets and 1,417 structures within the lake.
The urgency of the intervention is underscored by recent findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), which highlighted alarming changes in the lake's size and land use. According to the audit, Dal Lake has shrunk from 15.40 square kilometres in 2007 to 12.91 square kilometres in 2020 – a decline of over 10 per cent in just 13 years.
The CAG had recommended a comprehensive lake management strategy, including upgrading sewage treatment infrastructure to curb the inflow of untreated waste into the lake.
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