Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, July 31: The Brari Numbal Lagoon which was once famous for its beauty and played a key role in the hydrology of Dal Lake in Srinagar, these days presents a look of a cesspool while the authorities are acting as mute spectators as the condition of the water body continues to deteriorate.
Even though the water body is located in the heart of Srinagar city-and has a huge tourism potential-the lagoon is no less than a cesspool due to lack of attention by the authorities in the last nearly 3 decades coupled with rampant encroachments in and around.
If the locals are to be believed, then in the last few years, the whole periphery of the lagoon-the inner side of STP road which is the Govt land-stands encroached while the waste coming out of the nearby structures is also discharged directly into the lagoon, causing further deterioration to it
Even though, after a gap of several years in 2020, the Government started the process of upliftment of the lagoon’s aesthetics and long due dredging to improve the carrying capacity, that did not turn out to be a sustained effort.
Apart from restoration, the lagoon is also craving for dredging, cleansing and solid waste collection connection of drains to STP as well as the removal of encroachment while as there are around 400-500 kanals of proprietary land in the lagoon, the acquisition of which is potent to making it one of the best urban water resource and tourist destination.
“The restoration should be the prime focus rather than the beautification which can be done once the water body and its ecosystem are restored,” Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo, Chairman of Nigeen Lake Conservation Organization (NLCO) told Excelsior.
Apart from other restoration works, the outlet which connects the lagoon with the river Jehlum-termed as a game changer-also needs to be made fully functional which will help in improving water quality.
The lagoon, the locals believe, if restored, can become a big tourist attraction as a large number of hotels and guest houses which have come up in adjoining areas in recent years can ease the burden on the boulevard area.
Wangnoo said that a massive public awareness campaign is also needed to sensitize people living around the waterbody to take active participation in its conservation. “Like what we did under Mission Ehsaas; the Khushal Sar and Gilsar present a different look these days,” he said.
VC, J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), Bashir Ahmad Bhat told Excelsior that earlier nearly Rs 20 crores have been spent under various schemes on pathways and kiosks while several other initiatives are in the pipeline which will be carried out soon.
“The dredging was carried out earlier in the area which falls under our control, and what needs to be noted here is that 70% of the area of the lagoon is private property which is a bit of a hurdle,” he said.
Further, he said that under the Smart City Project, the concerned department is also planning to put in place a 4 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to connect the drains flowing in the lagoon “For improving the water quality, we are aiming at restoring the navigation channel of Nowpora and about the private land, there is a proposal currently under consideration of the Government,” he said.
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