SRINAGAR: Manzoor Qadri, Vice Chairman of the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), said on Thursday that nearly 95 percent of houseboats operating on Dal Lake are now connected to sewage treatment systems.
He said the linkage of houseboats to treatment infrastructure has significantly reduced the direct discharge of waste into the lake, a problem that had persisted for years.
“Untreated sewage should not enter the lake under any circumstances,” Qadri said. “All wastewater generated within the lake and its catchment is diverted to Sewage Treatment Plants and treated as per standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board.”
He added that six Sewage Treatment Plants are currently functional in the Dal Lake area, of which five are managed by LCMA and one by the Urban Environmental Engineering Department. He further said that even treated discharge is released in accordance with environmental norms.
While sewage management has improved, Qadri said the lake still requires continuous maintenance and intervention.
He said authorities are using machines to remove lily pads from open areas, while manual de-weeding is being carried out in narrow channels where machinery cannot operate. A system is also in place for regular collection of solid waste from the lake’s surface to prevent accumulation and protect water quality.
“These measures are part of an ongoing cycle,” he said. “The lake requires continuous attention rather than periodic clean-ups.”
On concerns regarding encroachment, Qadri said there is no active encroachment at present and that enforcement teams respond promptly to any complaints to prevent violations.
He said tourist inflow, particularly during the Tulip Garden season, has increased movement on Dal Lake through houseboats and motorboats, supporting the local economy but also requiring regulation.
“The challenge is to ensure that tourism growth does not translate into ecological stress,” he said.
Qadri added that communities living around the lake are also part of conservation efforts through regular outreach and engagement. He said legal safeguards, including a 200-metre buffer zone under court directions, are in place to regulate construction.
“Dal Lake is a heritage asset,” he said. “Its future depends on how responsibly we use it.” (KNS)
