By: Majid Maqbool
Amid a lot fanfare final month, visiting G20 delegates arrived in Kashmir’s capital metropolis Srinagar to attend a tourism working group assembly in a conference heart overlooking the enduring Dal Lake, which has drawn vacationers from the world over for many years for its gorgeous magnificence. It’s known as variously the “Lake of Flowers,” the “Jewel within the crown of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel.” Walter R. Lawrence, the British Resettlement Commissioner of Kashmir wrote in 1887 that “Maybe in the entire world there is no such thing as a nook as nice as Dal Lake. The water of the Dal is obvious and comfortable as silk.”
The delegates additionally loved a Shikara (houseboat) journey on the lake, which was decked up with fancy golden lights. However beneath the glitter on the lake’s 15.4 km shoreline lies an disagreeable actuality – it’s dying. Researchers warn that if well timed motion isn’t taken, the famed lake could be historical past. Elevated urbanization, unchecked encroachment and lack of correct sewage have taken a heavy toll on the ecosystem. The water is polluted, filled with weed progress, and unfit for human consumption.
Final month, a fish recognized as an unique Alligator Gar was present in Dal Lake, which set the alarm bells ringing amongst scientists who worry that presence of non-native fish species might spell doom for its fragile ecosystem. That was adopted by the sudden die-off of numerous fish, to the purpose the place native inhabitants mentioned that that they had by no means seen so many useless fish floating on the lake. Though authorities mentioned that it was a traditional annual affair as a result of “thermal stratification,” or a change within the temperature at completely different depths, which can not directly trigger massive die-offs, specialists mentioned {that a} main reason for fish mortality is elevated air pollution and continued influx of untreated sewage.
A analysis study carried out in 2022 discovered that the water high quality of Dal Lake has undergone “monstrous anthropogenetic stress” for the final 4 many years. “Houseboats, sewage therapy vegetation, resorts, agricultural practices across the lake, floating gardens, lake encroachment, and different non-point sources have degraded the water high quality in addition to aesthetic properties of the lake,” the research discovered.
“Over time, the focus of dangerous substances, phosphates, chlorides, and nitrates has elevated tremendously. Focus of complete phosphorous has elevated from 0.1 to 0.4 mg/l in 1997 to about 6 mg/l in 2017. Equally, chlorides have proven a steep improve from 2–2.7 mg/l 329 in 2007 to 10.3 mg/l in 2017. Different parts like calcium and magnesium have additionally witnessed an growing development within the lake,” in accordance with the research.
The research revealed that the lake has turn into hyper-eutrophic at a number of locations, severely affecting the ecosystem. Hyper-eutrophism is a time period describing a scenario the place a water physique has misplaced a lot of its dissolved oxygen that standard aquatic life begins to die off. The result’s a lake the colour of inexperienced pea soup.
“Adjustments brought on as a result of these components have affected the lake water high quality to such an extent that these can’t be corrected naturally, and if correct and well timed measures aren’t applied, the probabilities of lake survival are bleak,” the research concluded whereas calling for an pressing want for restoration, administration and conservation by each authorities and native inhabitants
Khalid Z. Masoodi, Assistant Professor and Junior Scientist on the Division of Plant Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir College of Agricultural Sciences and Know-how of Kashmir (SKUAST), was a part of a recent study targeted on figuring out the macrophytes (vegetation that develop in water) of Dal Lake utilizing DNA Barcoding. Their research discovered that not solely fish but additionally new macrophytes have been present in Dal Lake.
“A research was lately carried out by my lab wherein we collected varied Macrophytes from Dal Lake to determine their use as Superfood and to establish them at DNA Stage. To our utter shock, we found three new macrophytes in Dal Lake utilizing DNA Barcoding that have been by no means proven to be current in Dal Lake earlier than,” Masoodi informed Asia Sentinel.
The scientist believes that the key concern confronting the lake is uncontrolled sewage waste which accounts for the biggest pollutant going into the lake.
“All of the fields which can be above Dal degree, their water containing pesticides, vitamins, and fungicides flush into Dal Lake. The before everything factor to assist Dal is to forestall all sewage going into the lake,” mentioned Masoodi.
Ather Masoodi, one other researcher who focuses on aquatic weed biology and administration, mentioned that untreated sewage influx is “extraordinarily detrimental” to the lake.
“After which the accompanying runoff of fertilizers will increase disease-causing pathogens and weed progress and low ranges of oxygen for fish and different animals,” the researcher mentioned.
Khalid Masoodi believes if the dying lake is to be saved, well timed motion is essential, which incorporates stopping sewage from going into the lake, full rehabilitation of Dal dwellers to close by locations, introducing fish that are herbivorous and eat macrophytes voraciously, and figuring out invasive fish species through the use of synthetic intelligence instruments.
In response to Ather Masoodi, a long-term plan is extraordinarily essential together with common short-term measures.
“We have to verify the vitamins flowing into the lake. SWOT evaluation of any exercise aimed toward conservation ought to be a precedence, in order that the errors and classes realized could be utilized to different websites,” he mentioned including that’s sadly not taking place and we’re “repeating the errors whereas managing different lakes and wetlands. Managing a lake ought to be based mostly on ecological rules and never seen with a purely engineering prism. Any conservation exercise ought to be selected information.”
“What makes Dal, a glacial oligotrophic alpine and spring-fed lake, completely different from different water our bodies is that it’s dotted with human habitations, houseboats, agricultural and floating gardens,” journalist Arif Shafi Wani, who has extensively reported on the lake’s situation, informed Asia Sentinel.
“Nevertheless as a result of in depth air pollution, the lake has been overwhelmed by in depth progress of weeds and lily pads,” he mentioned. Though within the final yr, the involved authorities have considerably succeeded in controlling weed infestations in some areas by finishing up in depth de-weeding, rather a lot stays to be carried out.
In response to Arif, one other main downside confronting Dal is the shortage of correct water circulation in absence of cleansing of its influx and outflow canals.
“Many inside areas within the lake are but to be linked with Sewage Remedy Vegetation and have changed into level sources of air pollution for the lake,” he mentioned.
There’s a have to take long-term scientific measures for higher administration and conservation of the lake.
“It wants a joint effort by the federal government and the general public, particularly by Dal Lake dwellers to assist restore the previous glory of the famed lake,” he mentioned.