Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Sep 2: The Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) presented a report to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), exposing the alarming state of Brari Nambal Lagoon, an important water body connected to Dal Lake.
The Committee cited unchecked sewage inflow, illegal encroachments, and poorly functioning treatment plants as the main factors behind its decline.
The report, filed in line with NGT’s directions after a news article titled “Brari Nambal: A Stark Failure, Successive Regimes Failed to Restore Glory of Dal Lake’s Lagoon”, stresses that the lagoon — once a vital ecological outlet for Dal Lake — has steadily deteriorated, losing both its health and significance due to prolonged neglect.
According to the PCC, poor sewage management in the Baba Demb area has become the main source of pollution, with two drains directly discharging into the lagoon. Although two Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) with capacities of 16.1 MLD and 17.1 MLD are operational in the area, the report notes that neither meets the standards prescribed by the NGT.
Consequently, inadequately treated sewage continues to enter the lagoon, resulting in elevated levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and faecal coliform, which have severely degraded its water quality.
A study by the Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing has revealed disturbing land use changes in the Brari Nambal catchment between 2003 and 2025. Agricultural land has shrunk by 32%, plantation cover has fallen by 82%, while built-up areas have expanded by more than 180%.
The report also notes that despite multiple initiatives by the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) — including dredging, installation of aerators, and beautification works worth crores under AMRUT and PMDP schemes — the restoration drive has faced setbacks. Rampant encroachments, indiscriminate garbage dumping, and resistance from private landholders continue to obstruct meaningful conservation.
In a parallel submission, the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar reported that Brari Nambal covers 858 kanals, of which over 240 kanals is state land. However, the extent of encroachments remains unclear due to incomplete revenue records.
To tackle the crisis, authorities have proposed a Rs 50.64 crore “Pollution Abatement Project” featuring a 14 MLD STP, sewer network, and allied works under the NGT Action Plan 2025–26. Tenders for upgrading existing facilities have already been issued.
The J&K PCC has urged the NGT to take note of its findings, pointing out that despite repeated reminders; the Srinagar Municipal Corporation has not yet submitted its detailed status report, citing the prevailing flood situation.
The report concludes that Brari Nambal’s ecological deterioration stems from poor sewage management, rampant encroachments, and weak coordination in conservation efforts. It stresses that immediate intervention is essential to safeguard Dal Lake’s hydrology.
