Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Feb 13: The J&K Government today informed the Legislative Assembly that a Rs 41.17 crore garland sewer network is being constructed around Khushalsar Lake under grants from the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
In a written reply to a question raised by MLA Mubarik Gul, the Government said the sewer network will be connected to the Noorbagh Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
The project is being executed by the Urban Environment and Economic Development (UEED) Department as part of comprehensive efforts to restore and conserve Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes.
The Government informed that the water bodies have recently been handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (J&K LCMA) for focused conservation and management.
Overall, the Government said the Authority has undertaken dredging and cleaning operations using departmental machinery to remove silt and accumulated debris from the lakes.
Measures have also been put in place to prevent fresh encroachments, including demarcation and fencing of lake boundaries using GPS and satellite imagery. Fences have been erected at vulnerable locations to physically check illegal constructions.
To enhance surveillance, the Government said Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras have been installed along the lake periphery from Dalgate to Habak via Nishat.
The Government stated that work is in progress to install 29 additional cameras from Habak to Dalgate via NIT to monitor the illegal ferrying of construction material.
Legal action under the J&K Control of Building Operations Act and the J&K Development Act has been initiated against violators, with FIRs registered and demolition orders issued in several cases.
The Government further informed that modern technology is being used to monitor water quality.
An Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring System (OCEMS) has been installed at five STPs – Hazratbal, Habak, Laam, Nallah Amir Khan, and Brari Nambal – to record real-time physico-chemical parameters such as Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Total Suspended Solids (TSS).
The Government further noted that solid waste management around Dal and Nageen lakes has been strengthened, with daily collection and disposal of waste from houseboats, commercial establishments and dwelling units.
Floating debris, including plastic and polybags, is collected daily and transported to the shore for disposal through the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, it stated.
It further informed that catchment area management works are also underway to conserve Dal Lake. Over the past few years, as per the Government, around two lakh plants have been planted to improve air quality and stabilise soil.
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