J&K Pollution Control Committee has informed the National Green Tribunal that water with domestic sewage is still being discharged into Dal Lake without treatment from as many as 910 houseboats. Out of the samples from 24 locations, only one spot has conformed to Class B criteria (fishable and swimmable conditions which may be of good to excellent quality). NGT had asked for a detailed report on the status of monitoring stations and water quality of Dal Lake besides the status of sewage management in the Srinagar city specifically around Dal Lake; status of sewage disposal by houseboats and sewage treatment mechanism and status of monitoring of STPs. The report quoting analyses from January to May 2024 mentions: “Out of the water samples collected and tested for 24 locations, only one spot conforms to Class B criteria”. It says that low concentration of dissolved oxygen was recorded in the back water channels of Dal Lake-Nayadyar and Jogilankar, which is due to unabated flow of untreated domestic water into these channels. It says “high concentration of Total Coliform Bacteria has been observed at Konkhan Intermediate Pumping Station site whereas maximum concentration of Fecal Coliform Bacteria was observed near Hazratbal shrine and Konkhan Intermediate Pumping Station”. As per this shocking report water with domestic sewage from 910 houseboats in Dal and Nigeen Lakes is discharged into Dal Lake without any treatment. For treatment of sewage generated from the catchment areas of the Dal and Nigeen Lakes, there are six STPs with capacity of treating 53.8 MLD of sewage water. “Untreated sewage gets entry into Dal Lake from areas like Telbal and Lal Bazar etc”, says the report and adds that waste water quality analysis reports of six operational STPs indicate that quality of the treated water for all analysed parameters doesn’t fall within the prescribed limits. It says that treated water is entering into Dal Lake which should have been otherwise utilised for irrigation and construction works.
