File Photo: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today directed Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to immediately undertake realignment of houseboats in the famous Dal Lake to prevent influx of untreated sewage from entering into the water body.
"The realignment of 388 houseboats at Doldum in the form of a cluster should be done immediately as it is critical to maintaining the water quality of the lake. Unless houseboats realign, a common Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) cannot be installed," Mr Sayeed said.
"With untreated sewage and refuse directly entering the lake, the enriched nutrient content will hasten uncontrolled growth of weeds in the lake," he said.
The Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress achieved under the National Lake Conservation and Management Programme (NLCP), a Rs 298.78 crore project sanctioned by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) for conservation of Dal Lake.
He asked vice-chairman LAWDA to reinforce all resources at his disposal in making lake water crystal clear over the next two months.
"Manual de-weeding of the lake has to be a continuous process and needs to be prioritised," the Chief Minister said.
On the issue of LAWDA being deficient in lake-cleaning machines, given the huge expanse of the lake, the Chief Minister gave approval to the purchase of new machines to expedite de-weeding processes.
He also directed IGP, Kashmir Zone, to provide adequate manpower to Enforcement Wing of LAWDA so that a proper night vigil is maintained over illegal constructions in and around the Lake.
In the last three months, as many as 102 illegal structures have been demolished and 49 FIRs registered against the offenders.
The vice-chairman LAWDA informed the Chief Minister that presently five Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of 38.7 MLD-capacity have been commissioned with more than 150 km of sewer infrastructure laid along with house connectivity.
He said while two STPs are state-of-the-art, the remaining three based on Fluidized Aerobic Bio-Reactor (FAB) Technology need to be upgraded for better nutrient removal.
"September is the worst month when weeds are in full bloom. However, because of constant flushing, there has been no red algae in the lake this year," he said.
Dispelling misconceptions about the actual expanse of the lake, Vice Chairman LAWDA said the total area of the Dal Lake, as per satellite imaging, is 20.21 sq km.
The Chief Minister directed LAWDA to develop a model housing colony with all basic amenities at Rakh-e-Arth in Budgam district so that Dal dwellers can be shifted there without any further delay.
"We also need to provide alternate means of livelihood to persons who will be shifted out of the lake," he said. In all, nearly 10,000 families from 58 hamlets inside the Lake will be shifted to Rakh-e-Arth colony at Bemina and other colonies maintained by LAWDA.
Out of 10,600 plots to be developed in a phase-wise manner, 1,729 have already been developed and another 40 plots will be ready shortly.