World Environment Day: Kashmir’s Lake Khosh-hal Gasping for Breath!

Modern society is vulnerable to the environmental degradation in general and the human health in particular. The forests are shrinking, deserts are expanding, soil is eroding, the levels of carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases in the atmosphere are rising. 

Planning land use, projecting food production and assessing human effect on climate – all depends on understanding the major control on environmental variability. Water Pollution adversely changes the quality of water. Across Kashmir water quality in our lakes and river systems has reached critical crisis proportions. On the basis of the findings of the studies done major source of our water pollution are: sewage and discharge of domestic and industrial waste. Thus, it is critical to understand some aspects of environmental issues in Kashmir in order to study the potential effects of “Kashmir’s Future Environmental Disasters”. One such example is Khoshhal-sar.

 Khoshhal-sar – literally meaning  Lake of Happiness” is part of Anchar Lake, the second biggest water body of Srinagar after Dal Lake. Till not long ago the waterbody was a picturesque lake flourishing with rich flora and fauna. As the name itself suggests, it was  the most healthy, pristine and prosperous water body of the city and its water was used by the locals both for drinking and other domestic purposes.

Best variety of fish, lotus stem (Nadru) and other water products were extracted in huge quantity giving livelihood to thousands. Through Khoshhal Sar, people would cruise to places as far off as Ganderbal in Shikaras and Dongas.

Records show that even tourists from Dal and Nageen lakes used to pass through Nallah e Ameer Khan and enter Khoshhal Sar and on to Anchar Lake.

Alas! No More. ‘Khoshal-sar’ is virtually under an organized assault. The lake is in highly deteriorated condition and is now gasping for breath as massive encroachments and land filling continues on war footing, and under the very nose of government.

Khoshhali to Badhali . . .

Situated between Zadibal and Soura, the Khoshhal-sar Lake receives water from countless springs and also from Dal and Nageen Lakes though Nallah Ameer Khan and is interconnected to another lake, Gilsar – “Gulsar”, via a narrow strait spanned by a bridge named Gil Kadal.

The Gilsar Lake is in turn connected to the Anchar Lake. Its surface elevation is 1,582m (5,190 ft). As per the survey conducted by the Kashmir University Earth Sciences Department, there has been nearly 40 percent decrease in the size of this lake during last five decades. In year 1965, it was spread over a sprawling 0.96 square kilometers, but now (2016) it has been left to mere 0.60 square kilometers which is an alarming sign for environmentalists owing to its importance in the biodiversity. Khoshhal Sar once stretched up to Ze’inmar, Ali Masjid and was linked up with Anchar Lake at Syedpur.

Haven For Migratory Birds

Khoshhal-sar has been literally the heaven of migratory birds. The lake has been always first priority of these guest birds, which come from different parts of the world to visit the valley during winters. Every year, Khoshhal-sar has been home to thousands of such birds. As per reports, almost 250,000 migratory birds, in flocks, would fly from as far as Siberia, Europe and Central Asia and visit Khoshhal-sar. Migratory birds including mallards, common teals, gadwalls, pintails, coots, graylag geese, wigeons, pochards, shovelers, cormorants and Sheldrake ducks used to be seen between September and April.

As per reports explaining the importance of the lake, Professor Shakil Romshoo, Head of the Department Earth Sciences, “it has been one of the urban wet bodies which would act like sponge that soaks all the natural drainage. The fact that these were linked together; they were excellent means to divert water in case of an emergency.  During floods, with excess of water in the major water bodies, they used to house the extra water. Overall it has been helping in maintaining ecological and hydrological balance”.

Encrochments

Over the last few decades the sprawling lakes in Kashmir have been ravaged and turned into waste dumping sites. According to Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, over the last century, 50 percent of lakes, ponds and wetlands of Srinagar have been encroached upon. Even if we are not yet an Industrialized State, the water systems are in alarming and thus dangerous levels of pollution.

Over the last few decades the sprawling lakes in Kashmir have been ravaged and turned into waste dumping sites. According to Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, over the last century, 50 percent of lakes, ponds and wetlands of Srinagar have been encroached upon. Even if we are not yet an Industrialized State, the water systems are in alarming and thus dangerous levels of pollution. On one hand, all effluents, surface drains, garbage, polythene along with non-degradable are depositing in Khoshhal-sar lake. The areas near this water body have a poor drainage system which has added to its woe.

Unregulated urbanization along the lake peripheries has resulted in its shrinkage to less than a square kilometer. The slums-like constructions and the waste disposal into it is the major element in the degradation of its water quality. Against the violation of state laws, a large expanse of south and west side of the Khoshhal-sar along the roads linking Hawal with Eidgah and Eidgah with Soura have been extensively encroached upon with shops, automobile workshops, sawmills and residential buildings coming up on fringe of the lake, in clear violation of city master plan.

Population surrounding the lake was meager, till Dr. Ali Jan Road was constructed by the State Government, obliterating Khoshhal-sar, erasing most of its part from Eidgah and Ali Masjid up to Bolachpore, Soura side. This was a devastating step which obliterated the overall shape and structure of the lake. Government’s slack approach has not only encouraged encroachers but has also given birth to numerous questions regarding the protection of water bodies in the Valley. 

According to Dr. Majeed Kak, Research Coordinator, Islamia College of Science and Commerce, Srinagar, “Population surrounding the lake was meager, till Dr. Ali Jan Road was constructed by the State Government, obliterating Khoshhal-sar, erasing most of its part from Eidgah and Ali Masjid up to Bolachpore, Soura side. This was a devastating step which obliterated the overall shape and structure of the lake. Government’s slack approach has not only encouraged encroachers but has also given birth to numerous questions regarding the protection of water bodies in the Valley.  Khoshhal-sar despite being desiccated is still a wonderful tourist destination. Regarding the deteriorated condition of the lake it seems that government is not at all interested in the preservation of these precious water bodies.

More than two kilometer length of the lake from Eidgah to Bolachipore has been totally grabbed. One fails to understand as to why the authorities despite being aware of everything are not acting. Local activists see nexus of some influential politicians with the land mafia in the brazen violation of norms.

Health

Ironically the water of Khoshal-sar which was famous for therapeutic and medicinal properties is proving to be a major source and cause of diseases now.

Piles of garbage in and around the Khoshhal-sar and nearby Nallahs, as well as in the localities, have deteriorated the water quality, putting the health of inhabitants at risk with the enteric and skin infections common. It is not only the foul smell, but the stray dogs lured by the unattended waste that are deteriorating the condition.  

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Achen Syedpur Landfill – only garbage dumping site in the city of nearly than two million was established west of Khoshhal-sar. In 2011 – 12, Srinagar city had 575 garbage collection centers before being dumped at the site. The risk of diseases is likely to increase as summers peak.

The landfill spread over 600 Kanals lacks scientific disposal mechanism thus adding to the misery of inhabitants.

According to gastroenterologists the number of cases with waterborne diseases from the area are showing an alarming increase.

Everyday thousands of gallons of untreated sewage is being dumped into this lake, which has turned water poisonous leading to extensive damage of natural vegetation, fish and other aquatic life besides engulfing the neighborhood with a foul stink thereby putting the inhabitants vulnerable to life threatening diseases. According to Qasim Ali Dar, a local resident of 70 years, even birds are now falling prey to the situation. “The birds that cover long distances don’t find resting and refueling place and this is leading to their death”, he said adding sight of dead birds was a rare sight in past but now it is very common here”.

NGT Order Flouted

On August 11, 2016 National Green Tribunal (NGT) flayed Jammu and Kashmir Government for throwing municipal solid waste in the vicinity of Anchar lake.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar pulled up the authorities concerned, saying no steps have been taken by them in terms of the tribunal’s order passed on July 20, 2016 regarding disposal of solid and other wastes in Srinagar.

“What is the government doing? You (authorities) are doing nothing,” the tribunal said, adding, “Government has to ensure that there is public welfare.”

“We direct and prohibit municipal corporation and state government from throwing any Municipal Solid Waste or other waste at the site in question at Anchar lake, Srinagar,” the bench said. But one year on government is yet to set the process in motion for disposal of garbage now going into lake.

Passing The Buck

Ironically, no one owns the Khoshhal-sar. Authorities are shifting the blame from one department to another.

Srinagar Development Authority (SDA), Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA) – formed to look after water bodies – claim that the lake does not come under their domain.

In 2016 LAWDA revealed in a compliance report filed before High Court that a pre-feasibility report was submitted to Government of India for conservation of Anchar, Khoshhal-sar and Gil-sar lakes but it was refused with observation that such projects can be considered only after sewage of the area was taken care of.

According to Dr A. Majeed Kak, “Khoshhal-sar is a neglected lake without any supervision by the government nor is there any authority that owns it. It is under the supervision of SMC along with Anchar and Gilsar Lakes. They are totally ignorant about the methods of conservation and maintenance of these water bodies. It is a burden on their shoulders and they are unable to take care of it. With the result influential and wealthy locals are busy in grabbing the water body by filling it for the construction of factories other establishments and also for construction of residential houses resulting in the shrinkage and extinction of this once glorious water body. Nallah Aameer Khan has also been squeezed from both sides and is reduced to a narrow passage completely chocked with thick layers of noxious weeds that hinder the free movement of water in these interconnected lakes”.

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Scores of springs dotting the banks of the lake that functioned as the socio-cultural sites are now vanishing fast. Noxious weeds Azolla and Alligator grasses are so abundantly in thick layers, suffocating and eradicating underwater life including fish. “Fish diversity and production in this lake have shown a sharp decline over the past few decades and some local fish species have even become extinct. For example, Ramagurun (Botia birdi) which was once abundant, has now disappeared as has the algaad (Schhzothorax niger),” Ghulam Mohiudin, a resident said and blamed it on encroachment, pollution and siltation. 

Conclusion.

Every aspect of living is associated with the changing of the surroundings. There is need for a comprehensive research and analysis by academia in the University and the health expects in on the impact of the environmental degradation in Khoshhal-sar.

Based on the findings of several studies, the rapidly increasing deterioration of Khoshhal-sar, can be checked only once radical departure is made from the existing policies and practices established in this manner. There is an urgent need for adapting measures to minimize impacts of slow death of our water sources as they could adversely affect our water resources, particularly as they relate to the water regime in our state. Water for all would remain ‘unfulfilled dream’ unless we all with the government institutions, the media, the business empires and the civil society work in partnership to bring about a ‘Revolution in Revival of our Water Systems’ in our thinking about this vital resource and its essentiality. If there is one sector where public – private partnership needs to be put on test, it has to be in our ‘water systems’. Or else, we cannot rule out Khoshhal-sar a natures gift to humankind turning into “Badhalsar – Lake of Grief”.—
 

Khushalsar and Gilsar Lakes 

Location: Northwest of Srinagar city, Srinagar district

Altitude: 1670 m

Biogeographical province: 2.39.12 

Wetland type: 13,14

Description of site:  Kshuhalsar and Gilsar are two interconnected water bodies situated to the northwest of Srinagar. Khushalsar is connected to Anchar Lake  by a narrow channel. The average depth of Gilsar is 2.7 m, and that of Khushalsar is 1.5 m

Principal vegetation: Both the lakes support large stands of macrophytes of Typha angustifolia, Phragmites australis, Nymphea albs, Nymphoides peltata, Nelumbo nucifera, Salvinia natans, Lemna minor, Myriophyllum spicatum, M.verticillatum, and Ceratophyllum demersum

Land tenure: State owned
 

Land use: Fishing for mirror carp and harvesting of Nelumbo stems. Weeds are collected for cattle fodder
 

Disturbances and threats: Both Gilsar and Khushalsar are under severe biotic pressure as the lake surroundings are undergoing rapid urbanisation due to expansion of Srinagar city. The orientation of human settlements dose to the lake shores and in the catchment area is such that large quantities of human and agricultural wastes drain into the lake waters

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