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Preventive measures for Dal Lake Sir, The Governor Sh G C Saxena in his address as per news item "Governor's plea to geologists" in 30.10.98 of your esteemed paper to the 16th convention of Indian Association of Sedimentologists organised by the post graduate department of geology of Jammu University in collobration with Kashmir University has very rightly emphasised the role of geologists/sedimentologists and importance of multi-displinary approach in tackling the equilibrium between nature and changes for human needs. The Governor has also highlighted the pressing problems of the shrinkage of Dal and Waluer Lakes of Kashmir which are eluding tangible solution. The main reason for evasion of the solution for the shrinkage most probably are (i) that all the required disciplines are not included and (ii) project has also not been vigorously pursed. The identification of natural as well as man made causes of shrinkage is very necessary before taking up remedial measures. I am not aware as to which of the disciplines are actively involved at present in the project. Besides environmentologists and engineers the inclusion of Geologists having sedimentology as their specialisation, Botanists with adequate knowledge of fresh water plants, zoologist with specialisation is picies, biochemists and lastly but not the least photo interpraeters is a must in the taskforce dealing with the problem of Shrinkage. (i) The transporting capacity of running water increases manifold with the increase of its velocity and decreases with the decrease in velocity. Thus the moving waters of Telbal Nala enter the relatively slow moving water's of Dal Lake and deposit sediments at the bottom of lake making it shallower especially during rains or melting of snows in spring and early summer. This process has been going on since time immemorial. In order to reduce if not stop this sedimentation, construction of a small dam on the Telbal Nala at a reasonable distance upstream from its conflunce with Dal Lake is necessary. The sand slit, grit etc. whatever accumlates above the dam can be periodically removed and used for construction purposes whereever necessary. (ii) To keep the quantity of the weed low in the lake it would be necessary to replace the fish mirror-carb with a weed eating vegetarian fish from the Fax East as earlier local Kashmiri fish (Satar) was replaced by mirror carb (iii). The sewerage from the surrounding habitations including a number of hotels and guest houses has to be stopped from entering the lake without treatment or made to pass through separate channels without polluting the lake water (iv) Reporting, locating, checking and removal of encroachments in the form of dembzamin, floating fields and constructions etc. by Tehsildars, Patwaris or Municipal Officials alone will not and cannot be effective due to corruption in the system as stated by the Chief Minister himself few years back. It will be easier and worthwhile to take serial photographs of the lake area from a reasonable height with the help of Air Force. Any minor encroachment of dembzamin, floating fields, or any other type construction can be checked within hours by photo-interpretation can be followed by necessary administrative action. Once the limit of the habitation from the lake is demarcated in the areas along Takia Lal Shah, Ashai, Bagh, Said Kadal, Rainawari, Naupura, Karapura Pain a road may be built along the demarcated line. After which taking of serial photographs will not be necessary. As for Wullar Lake the main problem is silting by Jhelum which enters the lake at the south eastern Corner and leaves it at the south Western corner. Deposits sediments on a much higher scale but in the same way as Telbal Nala does in Dal Lake. It will not be feasible to built a dam on Jhelum near Sumbal and stop the sediments from entering the Wular but can have an alternative channel sufficiently large like the flood channel of Srinagar constructed between Say Sumbal or some nearby place to downstream of Sopore bypassing the lake. During rains and floods the water can be diverted through this channel and sediments carried by Jhelum will flow directly to the Jhelum Valley without passing through or settling in Wular. Other remedial measure similar to those suggested for Dal can also be taken up for Wular wherever necessary. Herritage of Kashmir without these lakes especially Dal is incomplete. Unless necessary remedial measures are taken in right earnest, both Dal and Wular will become Marshy like Pambsar, Hokarsar or Anchar and will be lost to the future generation. Yours etc..... |
