Srinagar, Mar 8: For the first time in over a decade, the State Government has launched massive flushing of the Dal Lake here to clear pollutants, silt and nutrients from the water body.
Officials said the move has been taken after the Dal and its catchments received large lease of fresh waters in shape of rains and snowfall during winter.
The Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) has opened all the outflow channels of the Dal including Gaw Kadal, Brari Nambal and Nallah Amir Khan, which carry the Dal waters to Jhelum, Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes. Officials said over the years only one of the outflow channels was kept open to release Dal waters.
The Dal receives its waters from Marsar, a glacial oligotrophic alpine lake, and Mahadev peak through four main channels- Telbal, Meerak Shah, Pishpav and Botkul. Despite construction of a silt basin in Telbal and Gabian dams in other inflow channels, the lake receives tons of pollutants including silt and nutrients which proliferate the growth of weeds in the water body.
Though the LAWDA, which is entrusted with Dal conservation, uses men and machinery to clear the lake waters, however environmentalists maintain that flushing of the lake is important for checking pollutants.
The vice-chairperson LAWDA, Irfan Yasin, said the flushing has been carried out on the recommendations of environmentalists.
“The flushing is aimed at giving a fresh lease of life to Dal. It will help to clear the accumulated solid waste besides lessen the concentration of pollutants and nutrients in the lake,” Yasin told Greater Kashmir.
“The massive flushing of Dal is being carried after over a decade. Water level in the lake is at minimum. We will make flushing of the lake a regular feature to maintain its eco-system,” Yasin said.
Pertinently, in 2005, the LAWDA had maintained a high level in Dal by closing all the lake’s outlets for nearly a month as a “cosmetic measure” to hide the weeds and give it a cleaner look. However, the move had backfired as it led to deterioration in the Dal waters and resulted in massive growth of obnoxious weeds.
Dr Shakeel Romshoo of Geology and Geophysics Department, University of Kashmir, said flushing of Dal will help to minimize its pollution levels.
“We have to understand that stagnation of any water body will have horrendous ramifications on its eco-system. Dal needs regular flushing to neutralize the concentration of nutrients. It is a natural process to prevent pollution in the lake. Flushing at this time when the snow melt water enters into the lake is beneficial as it carries away the pollutants and excess nutrients along with it,” Romshoo said.
He recommended that steps on priority should be taken to improve the inflow and outflow capacity of the lake.
The Chairman of Houseboats Owners Association, Muhammad Azim Tuman, hailed the LAWDA move. “It has been our persistent demand to undertake flushing of Dal.
The water circulation of Dal was drastically affected after the filling of Nallah Mar canal in early seventies. Regular flushing is the only way to keep the lake free from pollutants and nutrients,” Tuman said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST