Dal Lake under the snow-capped Zabarwan Mountains after the city received snowfall, in Srinagar | Photo credit: PTI
The Jammu and Kashmir government this month decided to shelve the ₹416.72 crore restoration and conservation plan for the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. The decision was made public in the J&K Assembly in response to a question by ruling National Conference (NC) legislator Tanvir Sadiq. The government has now proposed a conservation plan for the site which would allow residents to live on the lake. The delayed restoration and conservation plan, introduced by the Manmohan Singh government in 2009, aimed to address the key issues of the ailing lake by relocating the approximately 9,000 residents of the Dal Lake. It sought to address issues such as shrinking lake area, deteriorating water quality, uncontrolled discharge of sewage into the water body, and growing population.
What problems does Dal Lake face?
Over the past four decades, the lake has experienced an extreme decline in water quality due to anthropogenic pressures, according to a 2022 survey conducted by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST). She warned of extreme pollution and interference in the lake and its surroundings, invasion of invasive plants and animals leading to rapid deterioration of water quality.
The study found that untreated wastewater discharged from several point and non-point sources significantly degraded water quality. Deforestation, grazing, agriculture, and changes in land use and land cover patterns in the lake basin have further worsened the situation. The reduction in the number of tributaries and internal water channels has also led to poor water circulation.
Nutrient enrichment of lake water and sediments has caused extreme weed growth and altered the lake’s biodiversity, it warned.
What were the outlines of the previous proposal?
In 2009, the Manmohan Singh government approved a ₹416.72 crore scheme which, in the first phase, envisaged shifting 9,000 families to a new location in Srinagar’s Bemina area. Each Dal Lake family was offered a plot of land, ₹ 1.05 lakh for construction and ₹ 3.91 lakh as one-time compensation. The colony earmarked for the people of Dal Lake, named Rakh-e-Arth, was located in the low-lying, flood-prone area of Bemina and required extensive land filling. With a significant amount spent on landfilling, the government has failed to fully establish basic facilities. This slowed the pace of the lake’s population movement.
According to official data, around 1,808 families were successfully rehabilitated in 17 years. “However, it has not yielded tangible results on the ground,” the J&K government said.
She said the lake’s conservation efforts have only recorded 27% of the target.
What new measures are proposed?
In 2022, the J&K government set up a high-level committee to draft an in-situ conservation plan. He described the inhabitants of Dal Lake as “an integral part of the ecosystem of the lake”.
The J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) has been mandated to formulate a comprehensive policy for the implementation of in-situ conservation. It also advocated that relocation and rehabilitation of abandoned structures in priority settlements should be done concurrently in accordance with the current acquisition procedure in vogue. The government has identified 58 villages in the lake, six of which will be equipped with two modular wastewater treatment plants. As part of the Prime Minister’s Development Package, an integrated management program was created to conserve the Dal-Nigeen lake ecosystem.
Officials said the Kachri Mohalla in the lake is already functioning as a modern village. IIT Roorkee has prepared a detailed project report and an amount of ₹212.38 crore will be spent over five years. The project aims to solve sewage problems in 28 inner settlements, adjust the inflow from the watershed and dredge inner canals. It is currently awaiting final approval from the finance department, officials said. It also suggests expanding the development of inland waterways to revive internal circulation and smooth navigation.
Published – 13 Feb 2026 08:30 IST