In a first, open expanse of Dal lake swells by over 20 sq km in two years

Jammu, February 3

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Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir has said one-third of Dal lake in Srinagar has been rejuvenated and its open expanse has been increased for the first time to more than 20.3 square kilometres.

Survey for scientific de-weeding complete

• A bathymetric survey for a scientific de-weeding and dredging of the lake has been done and plantation of 1.60 lakh plants for treatment of catchment area has also been completed
• As far as the waste management is concerned, a load of 48 million litres per day has been calculated, of which 36 MLD is catered by five STPs to which all houseboats have been connected

The information was given at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo here to review the measures taken so far for the beautification and cleansing of the famous Dal and Nigeen lakes, an official spokesman said.

The Chief Secretary took note of the implementation of Rs 273 crore Dal Lake conservation plan which includes works like dredging, catchment area management, development of sewerage network, eco-parks, viewing decks, jetties and ghats and other conservation works.

In the last two years, the spokesman said the meeting was informed, one-third of the Dal lake has been rejuvenated, 6.5 sq km has been cleared off lily and the open expanse has been increased for the first time to more than 20.3 sq km.

The lake area has not decreased as compared to the earliest possible available records (1985 settlement by Sir Walter Lawrence), the meeting noted, adding, the area is almost the same as per a survey carried out in 2009 and satellite imagery. Moreover, the authority delineated lake boundary for the first time, besides carrying out drone surveys in 2020 and 2023.

The meeting was also informed that a bathymetric survey for a scientific de-weeding and dredging has been done and plantation of 1.60 lakh plants for treatment of catchment area has also been completed.

As far as the waste and sewage management is concerned, a load of 48 million litre per day, or MLD, has been calculated out of which 36 MLD is catered by five STPs to which all the houseboats have been connected.

About dredging of the lake, it was revealed that 20 navigation channels 10 km in length were retrieved. About 150,000 cubic metre of silt has been dredged out from the settling basin during the last two years.

The meeting was told that the programmable aerators-cum-fountains at seven clusters with more than 760 nozzle or fountains are going to be made functional soon, while the concerned authority is in a process of installing a high super jet fountain of 85 metre tall inside Dal Lake, the spokesman said.