Samples collected from 24 spots, only one conforms to Class B
Several questions raised on efficiency of STPs
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 20: In a shocking revelation, the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee has informed the National Green Tribunal that water from about 910 houseboats is still being discharged into Dal Lake without treatment and out of water samples collected and tested for 24 locations only one spot conformed to Class B criteria (fishable and swimmable conditions may be good to excellent quality). Further, it has raised questions on the functioning of the Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
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The National Green Tribunal, while taking serious note of deteriorating condition of Dal Lake in Srinagar due to municipal sewage, pollution and urbanization, vide order dated May 8, 2024 had impleaded J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority, Central Pollution Control Board, Jammu & Kashmir Pollution Control Committee and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar as respondents and issued them notices for filing response.
In compliance to the directions of NGT, Regional Director Kashmir of J&K Pollution Control Committee was asked to furnish a comprehensive report about status of monitoring of Dal Lake in respect of number of monitoring stations and water quality; status of sewage management in Srinagar city specifically around Dal Lake; status of sewage disposal by houseboats and sewage treatment mechanism and status of monitoring of STPs with specific focus on efficiency/capacity.
In the report submitted to the National Green Tribunal on the basis of water quality analysis of Dal Lake and average water quality profile from January 2024 to May 2024, it has been mentioned that water samples were collected from 24 spots of the Dal and Nageen Lakes and subjected to analysis for various physico-chemical parameters.
“Out of the water samples collected and tested for 24 locations, only one spot conforms to Class B criteria (fishable and swimmable conditions may be good to excellent quality)”, the report said, adding “low concentration of dissolved oxygen was recorded in the back water channels of Dal Lake-Nayadyar and Jogilankar, which is due to unabated flow of untreated domestic water into these channels. Higher concentration of dissolved oxygen was recorded near the STPs and some open area of the Dal Lake”.
The report further said, “high concentration of Total Coliform Bacteria has been observed at Konkhan Intermediate Pumping Station site where as maximum concentration of Fecal Coliform Bacteria was observed near Hazratbal shrine and Konkhan Intermediate Pumping Station”.
About the status of disposal of sewage generated by the houseboats, the report said, “there are about 910 houseboats present in Dal and Nigeen Lakes as per the Tourism Department whose water often gets discharged into Dal Lake without any treatment. The sewage generated from houseboats stationed in Nigeen Lake has been directed into sumps constructed near the fringe of the lake for its treatment”.
It has further been brought to the notice of the NGT that for treatment of sewage generated from the catchment areas of the Dal and Nigeen Lakes, there are six STPs with capacity of 53.8 MLA of sewage water and common STP with capacity of 60 MLD is under final stage of commissioning. “Untreated sewage gets entry into Dal Lake from areas like Telbal and Lal Bazar etc”, the report said.
Further, it has been mentioned that waste water quality analysis reports of six operational STPs indicate that quality of the treated water for all analyzed parameters doesn’t fall within the prescribed limits and treated water is entering into Dal Lake which should have been otherwise utilized for irrigation, construction work etc.
The NGT has been informed that based on the report of the Regional Director J&K Pollution Control Committee and results of the water quality test reports, directions have been issued to Vice-Chairman of J&K Lakes Conservation and Management Authority, Srinagar with the advice to immediately comply with the directions issued by the NGT failing which the officials responsible for continued violation of rules shall be liable to be prosecuted under the relevant Acts.
Similarly, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar has been asked to furnish the requisite information vis-à-vis the impact of tourism and rising population on the deteriorating condition of Dal Lake, scale of deterioration of Dal Lake owing to dumping of raw sewage/treated water from STPs specifically impact on fishes and factual status of Hanji people due to rising pollution in Dal Lake.
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