Water lily removal from Dal must continue: HC

SRINAGAR: Satisfied with the removal of lily pads from the Dal Lake the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority LAWDA to continue the process so as not to allow any regrowth in the next season

Updated At : 06:09 AM Dec 28, 2017 IST

September-16, 2013-KASHMIR TRIBUNE: Member of Kashmir's Lakes and Waterways Authority collect weeds from the surface of Dal Lake in Srinagar on Monday. Tribune Photo/Mohd Amin War..

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 27

Satisfied with the removal of lily pads from the Dal Lake, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has asked the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to continue the process so as not to allow any regrowth in the next season.

“The progress with reference to the removal of lily pads is appreciated. It is submitted that the operation (of removal of lily pads) has been extended to the other areas of the Dal. The vice-chairman, LAWDA, submits that the progress of work with reference to the prevailing weather (cold) conditions is suspended for a short duration and shall be resumed immediately not less than the first week of April 2018,” the fresh High Court orders state, while recording the submission by the LAWDA authorities with regard to water lily removal operation.

“We only expect that the authorities shall ensure progress in its continuity and not allow any regrowth of lily which may give a shabby look (to the lake) as witnessed in the previous season,” a division bench of the High Court observed in its orders on Tuesday.

In August this year, the court had given LAWDA three months to wipe out the water lilies from the lake.

The direction came following recommendations presented by the Scientific Advisory Committee before the court, stating that deweeding in the Dal Lake needed to be carried on a regular basis.

In the report by the Scientific Advisory Committee, it had been stressed that the water lilies, which also serve as an attraction for the tourists, must also be removed. The report further suggested deweeding of the lilies should be done manually and also by machines.

A common sight

Water lilies or nymphaea are a popular aquatic pond plant and a common sight in the Dal Lake, particularly in its Doldrum area
As water lilies have spread to a considerable area of the lake, blocking sunlight on the water surface, the Scientific Advisory Committee has suggested removal of the flowers both manually and mechanically