Srinagar — Once celebrated for its pristine waters, floating gardens, and historic houseboats, Dal Lake in Indian-administered Kashmir is under severe environmental stress. The iconic water body, which serves as a central hub for tourism and local culture, is now grappling with unchecked sewage discharge, plastic pollution, invasive weed growth, and encroachment.
The lake has reportedly shrunk by approximately 40% over the past five decades. This reduction in surface area is largely attributed to heavy siltation, unregulated construction along the shores, and land grabbing. Additionally, climate change-induced erratic rainfall and rising temperatures are accelerating the degradation of the fragile ecosystem.
Ghulam Mohammed, a 65-year-old master craftsman, highlighted that untreated sewage and illegal encroachments have severely polluted the lake. Local residents echo these concerns, noting drastic changes to their daily lives. Ghulam Ahmad, a 55-year-old farmer, recalled an era when people drank directly from the lake. “Today, I can’t even walk barefooted on this land, such is the poor condition of water these days,” he said.
The Telbal creek, which acts as the primary inlet supplying roughly 80% of the lake’s water, originates from the high-altitude Marsar Lake in the Himalayas. The water flows through Dachigam National Park before reaching Dal Lake, but increasing pollution levels threaten this vital supply chain.
Despite periodic clean-up drives and official conservation programs, the outlook for Dal Lake remains uncertain. The situation reflects a broader environmental crisis affecting the Kashmir Valley, threatening the livelihoods of thousands who depend on the lake for transport, fishing, and tourism.
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