A distressing scene unfolded in Dal Lake, Srinagar, as a substantial number of dead fish surfaced, raising alarms about the water quality in the iconic lake. Following the conclusion of a G20 meeting on tourism held on the lake’s banks, a viral video shared on social media captured a local resident expressing worry about the direct discharge of sewage into the lake, creating a negative impression on tourists.
The incident unfolded shortly after the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) conducted an extensive operation in early May to clear algae and weeds from the lake. A subsequent investigation by the Fisheries Department of Jammu & Kashmir, in collaboration with the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), identified several factors contributing to the decline in oxygen levels, including “thermal stratification,” a rise in temperature, and reduced photosynthesis due to cloudy and rainy days.
The report also underscored the impact of additional pollutants from rain runoff, exacerbating oxygen depletion. With approximately 50,000 residents within the lake and an additional 500,000 living in its catchment area, the incident has heightened concerns about the overall health of the ecosystem. Despite ongoing efforts to collect 10 tonnes of solid waste daily from Dal Lake, questions linger about the lake’s resilience in the face of mounting pressures.
This occurrence is not an isolated event in the region, as Kashmir has witnessed several instances of mass fish mortality in recent years, attributed to various factors, including drops in oxygen levels, variations in water temperature, and elevated levels of phosphate and ammoniacal nitrate.
Irfan Rashid, a researcher at the University of Kashmir, points to “chemical contamination,” untreated sewage, and the use of electric shocks for fishing as major contributors to the escalating frequency of such incidents. The process of “eutrophication,” driven by excessive nutrient enrichment from human activities, has been identified as a significant concern affecting the water bodies in Kashmir.
Despite ongoing efforts to address pollution, including the launch of a Floating Sewage Network on Dal Lake, concerns persist about the effectiveness of sewage treatment plants and the need for more robust pollution control measures. Environmental activists emphasize the urgency of comprehensive actions to restore and conserve Dal Lake, calling attention to potential violations of environmental laws. The government’s commitment to conservation, reflected in an expenditure of INR 2.39 billion (USD 28.7 million) from 2018 to 2022, underscores the significance of addressing the challenges posed by deteriorating water quality in Dal Lake.