Kashmir’s Dal Lake, Chinar Trees Under Threat

Kashmir, known for its natural beauty, continues to be a popular tourist destination. However, overtime, its ecology has taken a hit with increasing pollution in Dal lake, and destruction of its iconic chinar trees.

A compliance report submitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC), to the National Green Tribunal on September 7 confirmed “unabated flow of untreated domestic water” into the iconic Dal lake in Srinagar that is in violation of environmental norms. The JKPCC (Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee) is the authority responsible for regulating environmental protection and pollution control in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the report, low concentration of dissolved oxygen and faecal coliform was observed at several areas in Dal lake which include Nayadyar, Jogilanker, Konkhan and areas near Hazratbal Shrine. Only one out of the 11 spots of Dal lake, monitored for water quality, met Class-B criteria (fit for outdoor bathing) in June 2024, says the report, though tests carried out in different months by PCC have shown slightly different results, with all of them confirming sewage inflow into Dal lake.

This recent report as well as previous reports have confirmed that of the 193 MLD (Millions of Litres Per Day) of domestic sewage generated in Srinagar, 140 MLD was not being treated because of insufficient infrastructure. There are six sewage treatment plants, with a capacity of a little over 53 MLD, to treat sewage generated from the catchment areas of the DaI and Nageen Lake. Another common STP with a 60 MLD capacity is under final stage of commissioning, says the recent report.

In addition, the treated water of six Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) “does not fall within the prescribed limits,” says an earlier JKPCC report, which adds that one more common STP with a capacity of 60 MLD is in the final stages of commissioning. The report added that untreated sewage is flowing into Dal lake from areas such as Telbal, Lalbazar etc. Additionally, there are about 910 houseboats in Dal and Nigeen Lake and their water often gets discharged into Dal lake without any treatment. The sewage generated from houseboats stationed in Nigeen Lake has been directed into sumps (a hollow pit) constructed near the fringe of the lake for its treatment. It also said that the waste water quality analysis reports of the six operational STPs indicate that quality of the treated water for all analysed parameters does not fall within the prescribed limits and treated water is entering the Dal lake, while it should have been otherwise utilised for irrigation, construction work etc.

One of the reports also adds that according to the Water Quality Analysis conducted by JKPCC for June and July 2024, of the 24 monitoring locations, only one location meets the Class B criteria. Class B criteria, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CBCB) water quality criteria, is the water quality criteria for outdoor-bathing, which is lacking in the waters of Dal lake.

For environmentalist Javed Mir, the Dal lake was once a symbol of nature’s purity in Srinagar city, as during his childhood, they would drink water directly from the lake. “Dal was just a 10-minute walk from our neighbourhood, and summer weekends would invariably involve taking a swim in the Dal [Lake] with friends,” he said. “The water was clean, and it would help us quench our thirst in the summer heat.”  He added that increasing pollution is threatening the survival of the lake. “An environmental management plan for reversing the degradation process, and restoring the Dal lake for sustainable and inclusive use, is urgently needed.”

Sewage from houseboats and home toilets in the lake’s periphery, along with untreated sewage from other areas flowing directly into the lake, helps in rapid vegetation growth in the lake due to fast accumulation of nutrients which are supplied in bulk by untreated waste, says an environmental expert at Kashmir University who preferred anonymity.

According to this March 2022 study, by researchers from Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh institutions, the condition of the lake in the immediate proximity of sewage outfalls has attained a serious stage. “Though the pace of pollution differs from basin to basin, the impact of advancing human actions is felt throughout the lake, rising in unwanted variations, led by extensive environmental deterioration,” the study says. “There is an urgent need to check passage of sewage from the catchment, and effectively halt the establishment of floating gardens, which is still going on in many areas of the lake.” It adds that bacterial population has multiplied remarkably, especially in the houseboat neighbourhoods and adjoining Boulevard and Gagribal owing to faulty sanitary systems, impaired land management practices in the adjacent vegetable gardens coupled with direct discharge of grey waters.

Famous for its flotilla of houseboats, Dal lake bears the brunt of human activities for a major part of the year with houseboats permanently anchored for tourists and many smaller boats used as ferries and mobile shops, as well as for cruises. Resultantly, the lake has suffered extensive environmental damage with its interiors and areas closer to habitations looking like cesspools.

An iconic tree under the axe

Meanwhile, unsupervised destruction of Kashmir’s iconic chinar trees (Platanus orientalis) under the guise of development has left conservationists worried. This comes in the midst of a construction of an indoor stadium being carried out in Kashmir University’s Naseem Bagh, which hosts scores of chinar trees. According to heritage enthusiast and conservationist, Saleem Beg, head of INTACH Kashmir, a few years ago, when the Hamzah Guest House was constructed in Naseem Bagh, over 16 fully grown chinar trees were felled.

“There is an urgent need for the university authorities to halt this project or carry out the impact assessment (to establish what extent the construction project impacts the chinar trees) so it does not jeopardise the future of the remaining chinar trees in its immediate surroundings,” Beg told Mongabay India.

“The chinar is more than just a tree, it is a part of Kashmir’s identity,” he said. “The fact that they are being felled, often with little regard for their irreplaceable value is something which calls for serious introspection, especially on behalf of the government and the institutions that are supposed to guide us on various fronts, including sustainable development.” Peoples’ Environmental Council (PEC), an environmental watchdog based out of Kashmir, has filed an RTI application asking the government pertinent questions about the unabated loss of Kashmir’s iconic heritage tree.

A PEC spokesperson, on condition of anonymity, told Mongabay India, that there needs to be strict enforcement of existing protections and more comprehensive environmental assessments before any construction project is approved in areas where chinar trees exist. He said that while development is important, it should not come at the cost of damaging a key part of Kashmir’s natural heritage.

In addition of the legal safeguard for chinar trees existing since 1969, in March 2009, the state government imposed a ban on felling and lopping of chinar trees in view of repeated complaints from environmentalists and non-governmental organisations citing “reckless lopping and felling of chinar  in every nook and corner of the valley.”  According to the 2018 chinar census – the latest census – there are 34,606 chinar trees, which currently exist in different districts of Kashmir. Of these, 4,684 of them are over 400-years-old and over 13,000 are between 200 and 400-years-old.

According to Beg, the laws to protect the Chinar trees and stop their felling or lopping. “However these are being routinely violated,” he said. “The state government had set up a Chinar Development Office under the Directorate of Floriculture in 1986. But overtime, the department has been a mute witness to callous destruction of this cultural and ecological asset.”

Chinar has a unique place in Kashmiri culture. These trees have provided shade in the summer heat and served as meeting places for communities, besides inspiring poets and artists with their grandeur. Historically, chinars have been planted near Sufi shrines, royal gardens, and along scenic avenues. Ecologically, the chinar plays a crucial role in maintaining the region’s environmental balance. Its large canopy provides a habitat for various bird species, and the tree also contributes to the region’s unique microclimate.

Standing majestically in groves at historical places such as Mughal Gardens and Kashmir University’s Naseem Bagh or singularly at road junctions, villages or river banks, chinar is found in almost every district of Kashmir. Often termed as the pride of Kashmir, this celebrated tree is known for its expansive canopy with broad and rustling leaves and its giant size. When Kashmiris refer to something unachievable, they say it is like piercing the trunk of chinar with a pestle (Ye gov boni tarun mohul). When they refer to a cool and soothing shade, they liken it to “boni Shehjar” or cool shade of the chinar tree.

(Published under Creative Commons from Mongabay-India. Read the original article here)