NGT Forms Joint Committee to Combat Pollution in Dal Lake

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has established a joint committee to address pollution in Srinagar’s Dal Lake.

A Coram consisting of Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Judicial Member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, and Expert Member Dr. A Senthil Vel has also instructed the committee to develop environmental management guidelines for houseboats.

“The Committee will ascertain the sources of pollution in Dal Lake, identify the responsible persons or entities, and take appropriate remedial and punitive action. The Committee will also prepare environmental management guidelines for houseboats,” the order stated.

The NGT was hearing a suo motu matter concerning the deteriorating condition of Dal Lake, primarily caused by the discharge of municipal sewage and other pollutants from various sources.

The proceedings were initiated following a news article titled “The Drowning Jewel – Tapestry of Dal Lake’s Decline and the Fishing Community’s Struggle in Kashmir.”

The Tribunal, on May 8, issued notices to the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (J&KPCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The response from the Member Secretary of the J&KPCC highlighted the continuous flow of untreated domestic water into the lake’s channels and violations of environmental norms, as evidenced by a sample analysis report showing high concentrations of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), total coliform, and fecal coliform.

It was further revealed that untreated sewage from areas like Telbal and Lalbazar flows into Dal Lake. Additionally, there are approximately 910 houseboats in Dal and Nigeen Lake, whose wastewater often gets discharged into Dal Lake without any treatment.

The NGT determined that urgent remedial action is necessary to prevent pollutants, including untreated sewage, from entering Dal Lake.

As a result, the NGT formed a Joint Committee comprising the following members: (i) Member Secretary, J&K PCC, (ii) Vice-Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority, Srinagar; (iii) Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar; (iv) Regional Office, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Chandigarh; (v) District Magistrate, Srinagar; (vi) Senior Officer of CPCB nominated by Member Secretary, CPCB.

The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on December 2, 2024.