‘Dal weeds to be converted into biogas, fertilizer’

Srinagar Aug 19: With excessive growth of obnoxious weeds hampering the beauty of the famed Dal Lake, the government has decided to commercialize weeds by converting them into biogas and fertilizer.
The unbridled growth of obnoxious weeds is giving ugly look to the picturesque Dal Lake.
“Around 2.5 lakh cubic metres of weeds are being removed from the Dal Lake annually and we can avail full advantage by commercialization of weeds,” a senior official of Lakes and Conservative Management Authority (LCMA) said.
“The conversion of weeds into fertilizer and biogas would prove futile for the economy of Kashmir. On one hand, we can clean the lake while on the other hand we would benefit from it,” the official said.
Sources said LCMA has signed an agreement with NAFED for 96 kanals for a period of 26 years, for the construction, operation and management of the disposal facility on the scheduled lease rent.
Presently, several harvesting machines are operating removing weeds from Dal Lake. The weeds are also being removed manually by people then dumped at several places for rot.
Experts believe that around 40,000-50,000 tonnes of material, including silt and nutrients, are added annually to the lake boosting the growth of weeds.
The official believes that sewage flowing into the lake is the main contributor for growing weeds in the lake.
He said there are enormous nutrients like phosphate, methane in weeds, which are ideal for biogas and fertilizer purposes.
“There is a huge raw material of weeds available here and people can easily convert it for biogas and fertilizer purposes,” he opined.
LCMA is responsible for providing lakes and civic services which includes the collection, transportation and disposal of weed/lily generated in the lakes. J&K LCMA currently disposes of the collected weed/lily at the designated dumping/processing sites. (KINS)