Rs 24-crore Central project to improve sewerage at Dal

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 17

The Dal Lake, which is struggling with weed growth and entry of sewage, will get a Rs 24-crore sewerage project, which has been sanctioned by the Central government under its AMRUT scheme.

The project will augment sewerage around the lake, a government spokesman said. AMRUT, or Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, is a Central government scheme to establish infrastructure to ensure robust sewage networks and water supply for urban transformation.

The Rs 24-crore project comprises designing, construction, testing and commissioning of the sewer system that will provide manholes, house connections and pumping stations for the peripheral areas of the lake, the spokesman said.

The Dal Lake, located at an average altitude of 1,583 metres, is spread over 24.60 sq km. Out of it, only 15.41 sq.km area is an open expanse with submerged vegetation and more than 8 sq.km is covered with floating vegetation and cultivated land.

The conservation of the lake has remained slow as its existing eco-system faces existential challenge due to the entry of sewage and high-nutrient load. Experts have been warning that the entry of sewage is a major handicap in conservation of the lake.

The areas falling under the Central government’s latest project include Saida Kadal, Mum Khan, Naidyar, Gurpora, Jogilankar, Chowdry Bagh, Doulatabad, Abi Nowpora and Buchwara.

District Development Commissioner, Srinagar, Abid Rasheed Shah, yesterday chaired a meeting to discuss the project and directed the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) to launch a general awareness programme about the advantages of the project for the public before starting work on it.

The UEED officials were also asked to submit a plan detailing road cuts, traffic diversion, replacement of electric poles and water connections so that alternative arrangements for the purpose could be made before the work on project began.

Fixing up sewer system

• The Central government project under its Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation scheme will augment sewerage around the lake               
• It will provide manholes, house connections and pumping stations for the peripheral areas of the lake