Dal Lake Development Project

Dal Lake Central feature of Srinagar city; Centre of socio-economic activity; Religious significance; Large population depends on it for survival; Large source of vegetables, fish and aquatic plants; Major tourist attraction.

Dal Lake Area was 75 sq kms in 1200 AD; Area shrank to 24 sq kms in 1962; Area shrank to 15 sq kms in 1982; Current estimate is about 11 sq kms;

Dal Lake Serious deterioration in its water quality in last 40 years; Aquatic life of lake threatened; Threat of disruption of water supply to Srinagar city; May affect tourist traffic to Kashmir if further deterioration of lake not stopped

Dal lake Main cause of shrinkage and water pollution: Human interference by way of settlement on its shores; Encroachment on lake body; construction of earthen embankments within the lake;

Dal Lake Denudation of catchment area; Proliferation of floating gardens; leaching of fertilizer and pesticide into lake from surrounding agricultural fields; Flow of untreated city sewage into lake; Proliferation of houseboats in and on the lake

Dal Lake A consultancy group of experts from New Zealand was engaged in 1977 under Commonwealth Fund to recommend ways for improving the condition of lake

Dal Lake The group recommended: remove human habitation within the lake area and restore the area to lake; catchment area protection, nutrient and sediment removal and improve circulation of water; develop adjoining Nagin Lake;

Dal Lake Rehabilitate the displaced people; provide proper sanitation facilities within the peripheral area and houseboat sanitation; delineate the lake boundaries and control further ingress of population in the lake body

Dal Lake The project was accepted and started in 1978 for completion in 5 years at a cost of Rs. 9 crore later revised to Rs. 64 crore in 1982

Project Planning Project was divided into four phases; Project cost was revised from Rs. 9 crore (1978) to Rs. 64 crore in 1982 and to Rs. 323 crore in 1996; Completion time was extended from 5 years to 14 years; The project is still incomplete as of date

Implementation Construction of northern foreshore road and western foreshore road taken up, against the advise of experts proved counterproductive as it encouraged encroachment on water body instead of containing it.

Implementation Construction of roads resulted in cutting off 206 hectares of lake body from it. Further construction of western foreshore road was stopped, the constructed portion of road closed and converted into a footpath resulting in wasteful expenditure of Rs. 7 crore.

Implementation Construction f northern foreshore road also resulted in separating a large area from the water body and encouraging construction along the lake shore. Government banned construction on the lake shores, results of governmental action were yet to be ascertained.

Acquisition of land and structures Achievement for acquisition of land and structures in the lake area was only 48% and 8 % respectively of the targets set; Land and areas were acquired sporadically and acquired area was not restored to lake; Expenditure of Rs. 7 crore was incurred on acquisition till 1996 which did not serve any purpose; Acquired land continued to be used by people for cultivation.

Encroachments and constructions Encroachment on lake body and unauthorized constructions in and around lake continued unabated during the implementation of the project; The number of encroachments and unauthorized constructions increased from 16 in 1978 to 1967 in 1996

Rehabilitation Out of 1556 residential plots developed at a cost of Rs. 12 crore, only 293 were allotted till 1996; Expenditure of Rs. 7 crore was unutilized; 350 kanals of land were acquired (Rs. 3 crore) in 1988 for rehabilitation of families and Rs. 2 crore spent on development of colony.

Rehabilitation While development work was going on, Srinagar Development Authority pointed that the area was green belt in master plan and can not be used for residential purposes; Further work was stopped; entire expenditure proved unfruitful

Deweeding Experts had suggested selective deweeding through both mechanical and manual means in a manner to cause least disturbance to lake’s eco- system; The department purchased mechanical deweeders (Rs. 3 crore) and put them to extensive use resulting in appearance of algal bloom.

Settling basin Settling basin was estimated to cost Rs crore and expected to be completed in 3 years; Even after incurring an expenditure of Rs. 7 crore, the work is yet to be completed

Houseboat sanitation Problem of houseboat sanitation not resoled even after 18 years; manifold increase in number of houseboats has aggravated the problem; 2 biolets imported from USA in 1988 (Rs. 2 crore) were useless; Scheme of holding tanks (cost Rs. 45 lakh) in 1989 not used.

Peripheral area sanitation Sanitation schemes for peripheral area constructed at a cost of Rs. 2.4 crore not used and land for oxidation tanks not acquired. Sewage treatment plant yet to be constructed; This has further aggravated the lake sanitation.

Catchment area improvement Rs. 8 crore advanced for soil conservation and aforestation work in catchment area; Detailed accounts not obtained; work done by implementing agency not known to project authorities.

Nagin Lake Development Rs. 7 crore were advanced to various agencies in for; Land acquisition; Shifting of leper hospital; sewerage works in shore areas; Work was yet to be taken up and funds were lying unutilised

Banned works Extensive mechanical deweeding was stopped in 1996 due to is extensive harmful effects; Holding tanks for houseboats for collection of sewage was stopped in 1995 as it was not popular; Yet Rs. 3 crore were advanced in 1998 to different agencies for these works

Water quality testing Regular monitoring of water quality of lake was envisaged in 1986; Rs. 1 crore was advanced to a local Engineering College and Rs. 70 lakh to a local degree college for establishing modern laboratory facilities; Department was not aware if facilities had been established, no report was obtained from laboratories about work done

Creation of liabilities Dal Lake division had purchased material (civil construction material and mechanical equipment) without obtaining approval of sanction authority and without obtaining funds for these; This resulted in creation of liabilities for unapproved works.

Shortage of stores Non-observance of rules and regulations led to loss and theft of store material valued at Rs. 57 lakh besides shortages of Rs. 33 lakh noticed in store.

Excess purchases Stores valued at Rs. 2.3 crore in 1995 were still lying unutilized; Purchase was made in excess of requirements

Purchase of model Order for supply of a model of lake was placed on Chandigarh firm in 1996; Order was placed by the Chief Engineer while on leave at Chandigarh and 100% advance payment made to the firm (Rs 4 lakh); The firm supplied the model after a lot of correspondence and after a delay of 3 years; The model received by the Division was in broken condition and had to be discarded.

Irregular drawal of funds Funds amounting to Rs. 5 lakh were drawn by the Division on hand receipts; Name of the work was not indicated on the hand receipts nor were reference to estimate or sanction indicated; The matter is under investigation of State Vigilance