A green film coating the surface of Dal Lake in Srinagar, Indian Kashmir, has sparked alarm among residents and environmentalists, prompting a debate over the causes of the discoloration and the future of the iconic waterway.
Images of the affected areas, widely circulated on social media in recent weeks, display swathes of the lake covered in a vibrant green sludge. While some locals attribute the phenomenon to increased sewage pollution, authorities at the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) initially pointed to unseasonably warm temperatures and reduced rainfall as primary factors.
Muzamil Ahmad Rafiqui, Superintending Engineer at the LCMA, acknowledged the presence of pollutants entering the lake from agricultural runoff and other sources. But, he emphasized that the recent discoloration was largely due to a more than 50 percent reduction in precipitation coupled with consistently above-normal temperatures for this time of year. “When the inflow from all the channels supplying water to the lake is extremely low and the outflow gates are likewise closed for retaining water, it is natural to see changes in water color in a stagnant water body,” Rafiqui stated.
This explanation has been met with skepticism from environmental experts and advocacy groups who point to decades of documented pollution and unregulated urban growth as the root cause of the lake’s degradation. A report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by Kashmir’s Pollution Control Committee (PCC) in February 2024 confirmed the “unabated flow of untreated sewage” into Dal Lake, violating established environmental norms. Further reports from recent years corroborate these findings.
The current situation unfolds against a backdrop of shifting government policy regarding the lake’s restoration. Earlier this year, the Jammu and Kashmir government abandoned a 4.16 billion rupee (approximately $50 million USD) restoration project initiated nearly two decades ago. The project, approved in 2009, aimed to relocate approximately 9,000 families living in and around the lake to newly constructed colonies on the outskirts of Srinagar. However, after 17 years, only 1,808 families had been successfully relocated, with the project achieving limited overall progress.
The decision to shelve the relocation-focused strategy marks a significant policy shift. The government is now promoting an “in-situ conservation model” that recognizes the communities living on the lake as integral to its ecosystem, rather than obstacles to restoration. This fresh approach centers on developing “eco-hamlets” within existing settlements, installing sewage treatment systems, and improving water circulation through dredging and channel restoration.
Raja Muzaffar Bhat, an environmental and social activist based in Srinagar, described the change as “a striking shift in philosophy,” noting that communities previously blamed for the lake’s decline are now being viewed as potential guardians. Bhat, who frequently petitions the National Green Tribunal regarding environmental regulations in the region, cautioned that the success of the new strategy hinges on combining community participation with stronger environmental governance.
Iftikhar Drabu, a water engineering specialist, echoed this sentiment, warning that without substantial improvements to sewage infrastructure, stricter regulation of tourism, and effective monitoring of inflowing drains, community participation alone will be insufficient to restore the lake. “Nothing will work in isolation. A multi-pronged approach is needed,” Drabu said.
The policy reversal has also prompted a reevaluation among those families previously relocated under the abandoned project. Mohammad Ashraf, a resident of Rakh-e-Arath, a rehabilitation colony on the outskirts of Srinagar, expressed frustration over the years spent away from the lake. “They told us our presence was destroying the lake. We believed the government and moved here,” he said, adding that life away from the water has been difficult. “Our time was wasted and our livelihoods were ruined.”
Ashraf and other relocated families expressed a desire to return to the lake if the government now believes their presence is beneficial to its conservation. Communities who have traditionally lived on Dal Lake have historically played a role in maintaining its channels, harvesting weeds, and monitoring water conditions. They argue that integrating them into restoration efforts could be a key factor in controlling pollution and preserving the lake’s ecosystem.
“We have been urging the government to give us the responsibility of conserving the lake. We are the ones who know the lake, not the people who sit in government offices,” said Akram Guru, a Shikara (traditional boat) operator on Dal Lake. “We have been dubbed as the lake’s destroyers for decades. Now they say the lake needs its people. I hope the change in the government’s approach finally facilitates our contribution to protecting the lake.”
