J&K govt bends rules to drain half of Valley’s trout streams

J&K govt bends rules to drain half of Valley’s trout streams

Muzamil Jaleel

 

Endangering almost half of Kashmir’s famed trout habitat and in violation of the J&K Fisheries Act, the state government has issued tenders for the extraction of boulders and gravel from as many as 36 freshwater streams.

The tenders, issued on April 3 by the state’s Geology and Mining department, come after no-objection certificates (NOC) were issued to set up two large stone-crushers right on the banks of the most critical freshwater streams: in Lidder Valley in Pahalgam (South Kashmir) and Arin in Bandipore (North Kashmir).

Directly affected are the 10 biggest trout-populated freshwater streams, including the Brengi stream in Anantnag, the Lidder in Pahalgam, the Arin and Madhumati streams in Bandipore, and the Feroz Pora stream in the Gulmarg-Tangmarg valley. All for a “royalty” of Rs 3 crore.

These streams are home to a range of trout varieties, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and several indigenous species, including the Snow Trout.

In a startling revelation, Bandipore district Fisheries Officer Mohammad Sidiq has admitted to The Indian Express that “there has been pressure from every quarter”.

Asked to elaborate, he claimed that the department’s Director, P Angchuk, “asked me to give the no objection certificate for the stone- crusher and I had no choice. I did, however, put many conditions to make it difficult to set up the crusher because once the stone-crusher comes up, there will be no trout left. In fact, this fresh water stream too will vanish”.

When contacted, Angchuk denied that the NOCs have been issued. But he, too, echoed his junior officer saying there was “a lot of political pressure” to issue the NOCs.

Contrary to Angchuk’s claim, The Indian Express has a copy of one of the NOCs which clearly specifies that it was issued under Angchuk’s “telephonic instructions”. The state pollution control board has cleared the NOCs, confirmed its chief Lal Chand.

One crusher NOC has gone to Fahmeeda Bano, wife of Bandipore businessman Naseer Ahmad Mir. The other has gone to one Mohammed Ramzan in Anantnag.

Mir is an associate of a local politician close to the Congress and Ramzan is a former aide of an influential politician from the National Conference. Despite repeated attempts, Mir and Ramzan were not available for comment.

Angchuk himself underlines that according to the J&K Fisheries Regulation Act (1960), nobody can set up a stone crusher on or near trout streams or extract boulders and gravel from them.

“That will permanently destroy the natural habitat of the trout and has serious environmental implications. But we have been helpless,” Angchuk said.

He claimed that the Fisheries department didn’t give a go-ahead to the Geology and Mining Department to invite tenders. But when contacted, the Director, Geology and Mining, Ishtiyaq Ashai, said that his department issued the tenders only after a “detailed consultation” with the Fisheries department.

 

Kashmir's Jewel, The Dal lake in Agony

Raw sewage, land encroachment and years of neglect have been threatening the survival of the Dal lake in Kashmir where the idyllic stillness of its waters and beautiful houseboats have been drawing for tourists for years.

However, with militant violence at its lowest ever level since the revolt started in 1989, authorities say they can finally focus on saving Dal Lake with a multi-million dollar cleanup that could see the mass removal of some 60,000 people living off its waters.

Environmental perils the lake faces: 

� Thousands of tones of sewage spew into the lake, resulting in excessively high levels of toxic metals and choking the lake and its aquatic life of oxygen. Tests of water samples showed arsenic levels were almost 1,000 times above permissible levels. People drink this very water and feed on fish from these waters.

� The lake’s size has been halved in a few decades, to some 13 square km (five square miles), due to farming land encroachment.

Who is to blame? 

A slack administration as well as families sustaining on the lake but not sustaining the lake. They are the one’s responsible for dumping rubbish, sewage and waste and creating landfills of mud and weed in the waters for farming land and floating gardens.

$80 million of federal funds are to be used to relocate 58 settlements around the lake to a 1,000 acre site a few miles inland. The first 300 families could be moved by the end of the year. However, many lake dwellers, some of whom have been there for decades, distrust the relocation proposal.

Source: Reuters

Saving the Lakes of Kashmir

Dying Dal & Nigeen Lakes in Kashmir are dying due to state apathy and greed of a few individuals. Very soon the lakes will be extinct and natures bounties will have fallen to human greed. Billions of rupees have been siphoned off by corrupt officials and bureaucrats in the name of saving the lakes efforts but fact remains that the lakes are running faster than before towards a human driven destruction. Will our posterity ever believe that such jewels of nature existed?

Are we not vandalizing nature for our own peril?

When will the state and the responsible ones wake up?

Lakes & Waterways Development Authority = Lakes & Waterways Destruction Authority

Once beautiful Dal lake crying for help

Non-seriousness of the Government to restore the glory of Dal and Nigeen lakes is clearly reflected by overwhelming growth of obnoxious weeds and Azolla, a deadly water fern which if left unattended has the potential to kill the water bodies.

The problem is compounded by massive encroachments in the lake’s catchments and even in its interiors— defeating the purpose of ‘conservation measures’ for which crores of rupees have been spent so far.

In absence of sustained conservation measures by the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, the lakes have been pushed on the verge of extinction.

Ironically, the weeds have completely engulfed the front portion of the Dal overlooking. Despite having state-of-the-art machines and manpower, the LAWDA has miserably failed to salvage the dying water body.

Reports states that massive construction is taking place in the catchments and core area of Dal. In blatant violation of the High Court orders, the construction material is being openly ferried into the lake particularly during the night.

The infectious waters of Dal containing harmful Azolla, has drastically affected the lakes outflow channels also. Pertinently, Chuntkul and Pokhribal acts as a catalyst in maintaining the water budget of Dal’s ecosystem as its surplus waters flows through them into Jhelum and Khushalshar respectively.

The deterioration of the outflow channels started since June this year when thick mats of obnoxious water fern Azolla gradually poured into them from the Dal. This has not only affected the outflow of Dal waters but marred its aesthetic beauty.

Presently, the Chuntkul and Pokhribal are engulfed by thick mats of Azolla and weeds. The problem is compounded by heavy accumulation of garbage and plastic bottles which have been stagnated in the water fern. “Chuntkul has been turned into a cesspool. It has been completely neglected as if it is not a part of Dal. The water emanates a pungent smell causing inconvenience to the locals as well as tourists,” fumed Muhammad Ashraf, an inhabitant of a neighboring locality overlooking Chuntkul.

Recounting the Chuntkul’s grandeur, Ashraf said till a few decades ago it was a favorite haunt of foreign tourists. “They used to erect tents on the islands of Chuntkul and enjoy fishing in its gushing and importantly crystal clear waters. But due to indifferent attitude of the concerned authorities, Chuntkul is all set to become a history,” he said.

Similarly, Pokhirbal, a part of Nigeen lake has started to turn into a marshy land due to heavy influx of Azolla, and weeds.

Overwhelming growth of obnoxious weeds and Azolla, a deadly water fern which if left unattended has the potential to kill the water bodies

 (Credits Mir Jamsheed For All Voices)

Efforts needed to save Dal Lake

By and by every lake of India is drying up. Dal Lake is no exception in this regard. Once it was main attraction of tourists and film makers. But now it is struggling for its existence.   In spite of that politics is going on even on the matter of its conservation. Perhaps due to this, High Court has recently shown its anxiety over its conservation plans.   Main concern of the High Court was regarding different specialist assessment, contradictory devise proposals and predominantly unproductive attempts at preservation, the never-ending back and forth over the treatment of disappearing Dal Lake.   As the eleventh hour neared, debates cantered on whether worthwhile plans have been devised and implemented and whither the opportunity of intercontinental backing.

Even the Division Bench of the High Court condemned LAWDA efforts at preserving Dal Lake. Now, the Bench is also unhappy with delays in resettling lake residents.
For resettling the lake residents, state-sponsored resettlement and rehabilitation programme is going on in Dal Lake. Under this programme, concerned authorities moved 1221 families so far and planned to shift 5,000 families over the next four years.   As per officials, the standard of living of the rehabilitated people has improved because the plots are larger. They have lots of space and other amenities. But this process of resettlement is slow. On account of this, Justices BA Khan and Bashir Ahmad Kirmani did not agree with the official claim. According to them, no clear cut stand was obtainable from any authority as to how, when, and within what timeframe this improvement would be undertaken and concluded to facilitate the shifting of the inhabitants of this land.

On the condemnation of High Court, state officials say they are continuously in touch with the Delhi and the state government. Some time they are helpless, because they depend upon the Central government for assistance and guidance on crucial matters.

At this moment, there is a question, whether these plans would be executed and would these effectively augment the future of Dal. Green Kashmir has been helping with the Dal Lake clean-up for several years.

Opposed to these efforts, some experts are not happy with LAWDA’s work, because it’s basic assumptions are erroneous, citing their focus on engineering solutions as opposed to ecological concerns. If at all environmentalism is measured it is looked at apart from human natural balance and survival; humans are seen as superfluous and as the problem to the ecology, whereas in authenticity we are part of the natural balance.   The problems of the lake cannot be resolved by removing the people but, in fact, by nurturing hale and hearty human-environment association.

This is not only about the people who survive within the lake but also those who exist around the lake, particularly the catchments areas. In fact, what kind of lifestyle and agriculture is being promoted around the lake is a matter of assessment.   As per my opinion, a truly scientific and healthy development program should keep sustainability in mind. According to experts, the extension of the city around the lake, additional construction with its walls and pavements and drainage concern as problematical.

According to LAWDA, 65,000 people live in some 58 hamlets, houseboats, and other catchments and developmental areas within and surrounding Dal, all of which, in addition to the busy areas of the Bund, the Boulevard, and downtown, are without sewage systems.

In an effort to limit the impact of that circle, LAWDA has initiated several projects. Almost 400,000 trees have been felled in the last few years because environmentalists believed they were constricting Dal waters. Additionally, six sewage treatment plants that would reduce the nutrients in the local effluent, and thus decrease flora growth, have been approved.

The city’s raw sewage must not end up in the lake unprocessed. The network of Dal, Anchar, Wular, Manasbal and the Jhelum River are interrelated and thus all are in danger. We need to look at lakes and the rivers in the valley as an incessant system and not as disconnect bodies; if there has to be a plan, it has to cover all these bodies at the same time.

However, circumstances are so precarious. All rivers, ponds and lakes are drying up day by day. Even the Ganga is vanishing. If we don’t change our life style, within no time, we too will also disappear.   Mother Nature has also a definite system and procedure. We are not following that system and procedure. Ecological balance is very sensitive issue. If we disturb this balance in anyway, everything will be destroyed.

(Courtesy www.merinews.com)

Thirty years of Dal Lake Pollution

BEAUTIFICATION, PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION ARE THREE SEPARATE SUBJECTS TO BE TAKEN INDEPENDENTLY, WRITES DR. M. R. D. KUNDANGAR.

Aquatic ecosystem worldwide are being severely altered or destroyed at a rate greater than that at any other times in human history and far faster than they are being restored. Dal Lake ecosystem (Lat. 340 – 6′ N, 740-45′ E, alt. 1583m) situated in the heart of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir State is under tremendous anthropogenic pressure since more than three decades. The uniqueness of the lake is that 50,000 people live within the lake itself in various islands (hamlets) besides houseboats and doonga boats. The myriad ways in which people use the lake, along with the numerous pollutant-generating activities have stressed the lake ecosystem in diverse ways. These stresses have caused significant impairment to lake quality. Three major classes of stresses have been identified that has degraded its quality:

a) Excessive inputs of nutrients and organic matter, from point and non-point sources, leading to eutrophication

b) Hydrological and physical changes

c) Siltation from inadequate erosion control

Of these three categories, stress problems related to nutrient over enrichment and excessive plant production is probably the most common as an estimated load of 12.30x106 m3 of liquid waste with 18.17 tons and 25 tons of Phosphorus and inorganic nitrogen is enriching lake annually (Kundangar et al 2003).

Despite the fact, number of restoration plans by National and International agencies viz., Srinagar Master plan of 1971, Lake Area Master Plan by Stein (1972), Enex Consortium Report (Enex,1978), Dal lake Development Report by Riddle(1985), ODA(1989) Project Report under NLCP (1997) and Project Report of AHEC Roorke(2000), there has been no significant improvement in Dal lake environment but the lake conditions as a whole continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate thereby threatening the very existence of the lake beside posing serious health hazard to the people living within and around the lake.
This article provides the changes in the hydrochemistry and biodiversity of the lake during the last thirty years by comparing the earlier available data with the present.
The changes in the water quality are tabulated and the data reveals more than 70% decrease in water transparency, a major shift in oxygen regime(10.2mgl-1 to 6.8mgl-1), Ammonical.-nitrogen content(23.6 ugl-1 to 438 ugl-1),Total-Phosphorus(187.8 µgl-1 to 615 µgl-1) and Total dissolved solids(30.2 mgl-1 to 201 mgl-1) indicating thereby a drastic changes in the water quality which can be attributed to intensified release of nutrients due to soil erosion, runoff  from immediate catchment, discharge of urban wastes including inorganic fertilizers. The higher values of Total dissolved solids is clear indication of continued siltation, failure of retention of silt by partially commissioned Settling  basin and high ingress of sewage into the lake and mineralization process of organic matter.

The changes in the biodiversity where under the bacterial population has increased tremendously particularly in the house boat areas and near Boulevard and Gagribal due to inadequate sanitary system, poor land practices in the nearby vegetable gardens coupled with direct discharge of grey waters. Among the phytoplankters pollution indicator species viz. Cyclotella, Melosira, Microcystis, Achnanthes, Nitzchia, Euglena, Phacus, Oscillatoria etc. are dominant and a significant relationship has been recorded between the dominance of a particular algal classes and the proximity of wastewater disposal sites in Dallake. Likewise zooplankters viz., Keratella, Brachionus, Chydorus, Cyclops are the dominant and indicator species.

Table 1. Water quality changes in Dal lake during thirty years.
Parameters Unit 1974-1976  1985  1996-1997  2006-2007
Dissolved oxygen mg/l 10.25 8.7 8.6 6.8
Total alkalinity mg/l 69.5 85.6 104 115
Nitrate nitrogen µg/l 481 483 272 539
Ammonical nitrogen µg/l 23.6 37.0 362 438
Ortho phosphate µg/l 65.5 80.5 135 93
Total phosphorus µg/l 187.8 211.5 768 615
Total dissolved solids mg/l 30.2 32.2 119.8 201

Algal blooms:

Although the algal blooms are natural to freshwater lakes but the Dal lake waters with the advent of time and due to increased and unabated human incursions within and lake peripheries have witnessed frequent algal blooms. Recurrence of such blooms has become a regular phenomenon in the various basins of the lake. In 1991 the reddening of the lake waters due to Euglenoid bloom was first of its kind. According to Kundangar and Sarwar (1997) a close relationship was observed between chloride and nitrates which almost coincided with those of high euglenoid population. The authors opined that the lack of water flushing, nutrient enrichment and accumulation of free carbon dioxide were the possible causes of the euglenoid bloom in Dal lake. In April 1998 a bloom of cladophora was recorded in the Pokhribal zone of Nigeen basin of Dal lake which smelled like untreated sewage and chocked the waterways near the exit point of Nallha Amir Khan (Kundangar 1999).The author attributed the appearance of this ‘ blanket weed’  to the chemical enrichment due to incoming sewage. The same author in 1999 recorded the two algal blooms one of Volvocales and that of Microcystis aeruginosa in Hazratbal and Nehrupark basin respectively giving waters a lush green colour. The Microcystis bloom since then has remained perpetual in the lake basin and has engulfed the entire basin area. Besides these, Spirogyra bloom is of common occurrence in the Nigeen Lake particularly when the exit gate at Nallah Amir Khan remains closed.

Aquatic  Weeds:   

Peculiar changes have occurred in this basin over a period of time arising out of human incursions. Not only the floating gardens are being expanded unabatedly but 1/3 of the lake area towards Saderbal side has been turned in to marsh supported by thick mats of Typha and Phragmites and subsequently into land mass.
Euryale ferox, an abundantly found macrophytes has almost vanished and hardly scattered plants could be seen interspersed with Nelumbo plants. Chara an alga of which eleven (11) species were recorded by Mukerjee (1934) is on the verge of extinction and hardly few plants could be recorded in undisturbed pockets of the lake. Azolla sp. the exotic species are now the new invaders to the lake and assumed the greater dimensions.   The significant changes in the vegetational pattern of the Dal Lake and their prolific growth in the open areas are attributed to unabated inflow of effluents channels, drains, raw sewage and enrichment of the lake sediments particularly due to heavy load of organic nitrogen and phosphates.

Fish and Fisheries:

The fish population of Kashmir has been introduced from the Central Asian Highlands during the second inter glacial period. The fish species include the members of Schizothoracine, Sisordiae and Cobitidae. The notable fish species common in Dal lake were Schizothorax esocinus, S. niger, S. curvifons, S. micropogon, Labeo dera, Carassius carassius but during the last thirty years their number has declined sharply. The schizothoracides have been since out numbered by Carpiodes. The two fish species viz; Cyprinus carpio specularis and C. carpio communis, introduced in 1956 have got well established as they thrive in waters rich in nutrients and organic matter. The present day fish catch of Dal lake comprises more than 80% of the carp. The decline in fish diversity and yield is attributed to the changes in hydrological regime and loss of critical habitats. The changes in the species richness can also be attributed to heavy loads of incoming sewage thereby leading to increased eutrophication which has adverse impact on the growth and development of sensitive fish species like Schizothorax. The increased pollution levels are favourable for the prolific growth of aquatic vegetation, which seem to be more favourable for hardy species thereby altering the balance of species richness.

Restoring Dal the beauty

On the basis of recommendations of  the various consultants from time to time, the measures taken by the concerned authorities include partial commissioning of settling basin at the mouth of lake to arrest the tremendous silt load form Telbal nallah(a perennial source of water), marginal dredging along the lake shore, retrieving of land masses including that of sediment and slush, improving of the water circulation by way of cut and conduit at Brarinambal, revamping of the exit gates, removal of illegal floating gardens and some hamlets within the lake, deweeding along the specified lake areas, aeration of the lake water at selected places, laying of sewers around the lake and setting up of few Sewage treatment plants. Yet the lake does not show any sign of improvement either in its water quality or overall lake ecology. The fact remains that the condition of the lake is deteriorating at an alarming rate and creating hue and cry among the people of all walks of life.
The reasons for the failure of restoration programme of Dal Lake are summarized as under:

a) Changing of the consultancies from time to time and non-availability of required funds in time.

b) Politicization of the issue of Dal lake conservation and diversion of funds at highest level of state administration.

c) Predominance and preferences on engineering works.

d) Winding up of an established Research and Development wing to reduce the scope of scientific surveillance and to avoid any sort of scientific contempt.

e) Adopting of such energy dependant wastewater treatment (FAB) technology, proven to be failure under Kashmir conditions.

90-98% increase was recorded in ortho-phosphate and total phosphorus respectively while 32% increase was recorded in nitrate-nitrogen during winter months. The author had cautioned about the adoption of this technology for Dal Lake prior to its installation.

The present studies carried out during the year 2008 (Table 3) regarding the functioning of FAB based STP, showed that the installed STP could improve the chemical parameters of incoming sewage partially as against the claims put forth by the Dal lake authorities in their health bulletin (April 2008). Interestingly, the nitrate nitrogen content of the treated sewage shows an increase by 44% thereby vividly indicating the malfunctioning of the STP installed and commissioned by the Dal lake Authority against the wishes of the considered scientific opinion.
In my view the situation where under the STPs are malfunctioning, will not only exacerbate the problem of pollution of Dal Lake but shall have catastrophic consequences; as the non-point sources of pollution are being made the point source of pollution. This is also manifested by an increase in the oxygen consumption in the hypolimnion, rise in the BOD, COD and the concentration of electrolytes, as well as in the concentration of chlorides, sulphides, phosphorus and nitrogen. The increase in the concentration of P and the optimal ratio between P and N shall have important effect on the primary production and structure of plankton community and aquatic Macrophytes in various parts of the lake and subsequent deterioration of water quality.

Table3. Efficiency of nutrients removal through FAB-STP (April 2008)
Parameters *Raw sewage *Treated Sewage *% removal **Raw sewage **Treated Sewage **% removal

COD (mg/l) 116 36 69 190 108 43.1
Po4-p (µg/l) 658 282 57 620 390 37
T.P (µg/l) 1660 342 79 1320 805 39
NH4-N (µg/l) 2283 999 56 2810 1392 50
No3-N (µg/l) - - - 680 1232 i.
*LWDA – Health Bulletin April 2008;    ** Adnan & Kundangar (2008)

f) The unscientific and erratic deweeding practices have proved a cosmetic and temporary treatment without any relief to the ecology and health of the lake ecosystem.

g) The Houseboat waste management has remained still an unaccomplished job. The so called floating septic tanks installed in some houseboats during early nineties have proved only show pieces to mislead the people.

Suggestive restoration measures:

The restoration measures should lay emphasis on:

a)      Catchment conservation whereby already identified and prioritized micro watersheds should be taken for control of soil erosion and regulate flow regimes.

b)      Integrated water management into restoration whereby measures should be taken for enhancement of water holding capacity based on water and sediment balance; restore area under willow plantation, water lilies, vegetable gardens and other encroachment and take proper measures for improvisation of water quality.
c) Biodiversity conservation whereby achieving self sustaining native and endemic fish population through targeted restocking and enhancing diversity and abundance of Schizothorax. Moreover, emphasis should be laid to develop method to reduce the prolific growth of endemic and exotic aquatic plants species like lemna, Salvinia and Azolla.

The long term solution in my opinion to the problem under Kashmir conditions (where there is already energy crisis and severe winters) is the adoption of a proven Root Zone technology (Treatment compartments) for wastewater treatment. The Treatment compartments have been found to be efficient in reducing the nutrients (nitrogen by 70% and phosphorus by 73%) besides other chemical constituents. Construction of Treatment compartments for wastewater treatment in and around Dal Lake including other lakes in Kashmir valley will have several advantages compared to conventional secondary and advanced wastewater treatment systems and can go a long way in maintaining the present trophic status of the water body.
Moreover, the preparation of vegetational maps through latest available techniques seems to be a pre requisite in order to record the existing weed density prior to deweeding practices and that too under close scientific supervision.  The desiltation of the settling basin has become inevitable to increase the efficiency of arresting of the incoming silt load. The retrieval and cleansing of chocked peripheral springs all along the Lake periphery and diversion of their fresh waters towards lake will certainly increase the required volume of the lake.

The utter failure of the local authorities to restore the lake on scientific lines for last more than three decades and their interest in civil engineering works alone besides political interferences impel the authors to suggest the handing over the entire Dal restoration programme to any international agency well versed with the lake restoration.

TAIL PIECE:

Let the authorities concerned understand the difference between beautification, preservation and conservation of a lake, which are separate entities. Attempts to show that Dal lake has neither shrunk nor has undergone any morphometric, changes  besides changes in water chemistry and biological diversity over a period of time are misleading and far from truth.

[The article is an extract of the original research paper entitled,”Three decades of Dal lake Pollution-Restoration. By Adnan Abubakr and M.R.D. Kundangar, published in the journal of Ecology, Environment & Conservation- 15(4):2009 pp825-833].

(The author is associated with Lake Sciences & Water management Department, SSM College of Engineering & Technology, Pattan, Kashmir and can be reached at mrdkundangar@hotmail.com)

Full credits and kudos to Dr. Kundangar for his excellent work on Dal preservation.

(reproduced for general awareness)