Kashmiris launch drive to clean-up Dal Lake

Voluntary groups and residents have jointly launched a drive to clean-up the famous Dal Lake, a tourist hotspot in Srinagar.

Srinagar, Aug 9 : Voluntary groups and residents have jointly launched a drive to clean-up the famous Dal Lake, a tourist hotspot in Srinagar.

Around 400 volunteers participated in the campaign aptly titled, 'Save Dal', taking out garbage and weeds from the lake.

"The campaign to clean the Dal Lake is getting a good response from the people. What we need to do is to work out a strategy so that the problem of garbage getting dumped in the lake is solved. A comprehensive strategy should be worked out in which a significant role will be played by the government," said Jaleel, a resident.

Raw sewage, land encroachment and years of neglect have been threatening the lake's survival.

Experts said that the participation of the community is crucial to safeguard the beauty of the lake.

"The condition of the lake is very pathetic. It is dying. Until and unless the community will not participate, no government and no department can do anything," said Syed Ishrat, Member of Global Green Peace, a non-governmental organisation.

The lake's size has been halved to some 13 square kilometer (five square miles), due to land encroachment.

A study undertaken by the State's Comptroller and Auditor General reported that the lake has excessively high levels of toxic metals due to sewage. Pollutants were found in fish and in the water.

Tests of water samples show arsenic levels to be almost 1,000 times above permissible levels.

The lake authority has said it will spend around 74 million dollars cleaning it up with the help of new sewage treatment plants and a drain clearage system.

Farmers regularly encroach the lake area, often planting trees. Multi-story buildings and small crafts factories have been erected on what officials say are illegal landfills.

ANI