Source: TH
Subject: Environment
Context: The Jammu & Kashmir government has shelved the ₹416.72-crore Dal Lake restoration plan and proposed an in-situ conservation strategy allowing dwellers to remain within the lake ecosystem.
About Dal Lake:
What it is?
- Dal Lake is a famous urban freshwater lake and wetland ecosystem, often called the Jewel in the crown of Kashmir. It is central to tourism, fisheries, floating agriculture, and the cultural identity of Kashmir.
Location:
- Located in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Surrounded by Mughal gardens such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh.
Origin & Formation:
- Dal Lake is part of the Kashmir Valley lacustrine (lake-formed) system, created by tectonic and glacial processes that shaped the Himalayan basin. It forms part of a larger natural wetland complex.
River Connection:
- Hydrologically connected to the Jhelum River system.
- Receives water from inflowing streams and drainage channels from surrounding catchments and drains into the Jhelum through controlled outflows.
Key Features:
- Covers about 18 sq km, forming part of a larger 21 sq km wetland system.
- Divided into four basins: Gagribal, Lokut Dal, Bod Dal, and Nagin.
- Known for floating gardens (Raad) used for vegetable cultivation.
- Famous for houseboats and shikaras, supporting tourism and livelihoods.
- Experiences freezing during severe winters.
- Ecologically important but faces pressures from sewage discharge, encroachment, eutrophication, and declining water circulation.
