Vested interests in connivance with officials busy in disfiguring this pristine waterbody
|| K.LEADER
Unabated pollution and encroachments have pushed one of the famed lakes of the summer capital Khushalsar on the verge of extinction. The problem has been compounded by failure of the successive regimes to take measures for conservation of the lake. As a result, encroachers are having a field day to fill up the lake and go for illegal construction. What our reporter and cameraman witnessed while rowing through this dying lake was painful.
People with vested interests lacking civic sense were seen busy filling up this water body at dozens of places while the irony was that they do it without caring for the local administration. “When administration is corrupt, who has the guts to stop these consciousless people,” said a shikarawalla to this reporter. Located between Hawal and Zadibal areas of Shahr-e-Khaas, Khushalsar receives waters from Dal lake through Gilsar lake and finally merges with Aanchar lake.
Known for pristine waters, Khushalsar till a few decades ago possessed rich aquatic life including many species of fish. Small swaps in the water body attracted different species of migratory birds. However, in the absence of any monitoring by the successive regimes, Khushalsar has been extensively encroached upon and polluted. A spot visit to the lake reveals massive encroachment from all sides. Near Gill Kadal overlooking Khushalsar, a large chunk of the water body has been encroached upon. Some unscrupulous persons have even constructed a bund in the lake hampering smooth flow of water.
Known for pristine waters, Khushalsar till a few decades ago possessed rich aquatic life including many species of fish. Small swaps in the water body attracted different species of migratory birds.
“Pollution and encroachments have pushed Khushalsar to last throes,” said noted environmentalist, Dr Abdul Majeed Kak, who has conducted several studies on Khushalsar. Dr Kak said due to negligence of the state government, Khushalsar has been squeezed to half. “And the encroachments continue unabated in the absence of any monitoring,” he said. He said construction of Dr Ali Jan road obliterated Khushalsar, erasing most of its part from Eidgah and Aali Masjid upto Bahlachipora, Soura side.
“This vandalized the lake and paved way for reckless constructions. The problem was compounded by flow of sewage and dumping of garbage turning it into a cesspool. This leads to prolific growth of noxious weeds Azolla and Alligator grasses suffocating aquatic life including fish,” Dr Kak added. Our team was astonished when some family members asked a cameraman to take as many clicks as possible. “Do you think your expose will stop us from filling this waterbody. We have paid for this, go and ask the higher-ups to return our money.” Noted environmentalist, Dr M R D Kundangar, said expansion of human settlements into catchments of Khushalsar has disturbed its eco-system.
“Heavy loads of nutrients in the form of domestic effluents, residual fertilizers, encroachments, unabated siltation besides opening of the terrestrial ecosystem has resulted in extensive degradation of Khushalsar,” Dr Kundangar said. The overall degradation has seriously affected livelihood of the communities living in and around Khushalsar through decline in fish productivity, prolific growth of aquatic vegetation, loss of biodiversity and deterioration of the water quality. “Ecological restoration of Khushalsar and its adjoining water bodies is imperative for eco-system of Kashmir,” he said.
The overall degradation has seriously affected livelihood of the communities living in and around Khushalsar through decline in fish productivity, prolific growth of aquatic vegetation, loss of biodiversity and deterioration of the water quality.
The Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) entrusted with conservation of Dal Lake, submitted an action plan to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India last year, for restoration of Khushalsar and its adjoining lakes. The restoration plan submitted under the National Lake Conservation Programme envisages arresting raw sewage by establishing a sewage network, improvement in hydrology, regulation of flows, dredging and beautification of peripheries of Khushalsar.
When we talked to some respectable citizens they in one voice said that, “the land mafia is having a field in encroaching Khushalsar from left side of the Aalimasjid- Sazgari pora road upto the end of old spring site of Kashmiri Pandits. Some unscrupulous persons have erected iron sheet barricades along the road side and are filling up the lake embankments. We appeal the Commissioner SMC to direct the concerned officials to take immediate action for saving the lake,” they said.
A citizen even claimed that after 10 years this lake will extinct. We felt he is correct in his assessment. The way Khushalsar lake is being encroached in connivance with the officials makes us believe that a day is not far when we read this name in books only.
