Dal Lake turns green as weeds spread

Srinagar, Aug 10: Srinagar’s Dal Lake is facing fresh concerns over its deteriorating condition, with large stretches of water appearing green, thick weed growth visible across the lake and hundreds of fish reportedly found either dead or in an unconscious state.
During interactions with several shikarawalas, they alleged that the water quality has sharply deteriorated and claimed that diesel leakage from the machines being used for mechanical de-weeding is contributing to the contamination of the lake.
The machinery deployed by the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority includes a high-capacity de-weeding machine, procured for mechanical removal of weeds from Dal Lake. The machine is designed to extract and remove large quantities of aquatic weeds.
However, several shikarawalas alleged that the machinery is leaking diesel into the water during operations, claiming that the contamination is visible in the deteriorating condition of the lake.
“This water has become worse than drainage water. You can see the colour of the lake yourself. There are weeds everywhere and fish are dying. If the machines are being used to clean the lake but are themselves leaking diesel into it, what kind of cleaning is this?” some shikarawalas said.
The boatmen claimed that hundreds of fish have recently been seen floating in the lake, with some appearing unconscious and others already dead. They said the condition of the aquatic ecosystem should be independently examined rather than dismissed as a routine seasonal problem.
Locals also expressed concern over the rapid spread of weeds and the changing appearance of the lake, saying the natural water body that once represented the beauty of Srinagar was now showing visible signs of ecological distress.
“The Dal Lake is not just a tourist attraction. It is a natural ecosystem. If the fish are dying and the water is turning green, somebody has to answer what is happening inside this lake,” a local resident said.
Another shikarawala said the authorities had spent enormous amounts of public money on the conservation and cleaning of Dal Lake over the years, yet the basic problems appeared to persist.
“Crores and crores have been spent in the name of saving Dal Lake. If so much money has been spent, why has the condition not improved? Where has the money gone, and who benefited from it? Everything needs to be investigated,” he said.
Official records and previous reports show that substantial expenditure has been incurred on mechanical cleaning, de-weeding and related equipment for Dal Lake over the years. A 2015 report, for instance, recorded expenditure of Rs 25.15 crore on cleaning machines since 1997, including weed harvesters and other lake-cleaning equipment.
The latest allegations, however, require an independent scientific assessment of the lake water to establish whether diesel or any other contaminant is present and whether it is contributing to the reported impact on aquatic life.
Several shikarawalas demanded that the Government constitute an independent committee comprising people of integrity and technical experts to examine the condition of Dal Lake, the effectiveness of de-weeding operations, the quality of water, the health of aquatic life and the expenditure incurred on its conservation over the years.
“The Government should constitute a committee of honest people and let them investigate everything, how much money was sanctioned, where it was spent, what work was actually done and why the lake continues to deteriorate,” they said.
The shikarawalas said the issue should not be reduced to another seasonal cleaning exercise, warning that the ecological condition of the lake requires a comprehensive and transparent investigation.
Dal Lake remains central to Srinagar’s tourism economy. For residents and boatmen dependent on the lake, the question is no longer merely about its appearance but about whether one of Kashmir’s most important natural water bodies is being adequately protected, and whether years of expenditure on its conservation have produced the results promised. [KNT]