Illegal Constructions, Soil Filling Continue Inside Dal Lake; LCMA Visits Fail to Halt Activity
Srinagar, Oct 24, KNT: Illegal constructions and soil filling at several locations inside Dal Lake are raising serious concerns over the enforcement of conservation regulations, with construction material reportedly being transported into the lake by boats and load carriers in broad daylight.
The ongoing activity has drawn scrutiny to the role of the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), as construction continues despite the authority visiting different locations inside the lake. The purpose and outcome of these visits remain unclear, while the alleged violations continue to raise questions about the effectiveness of on-ground monitoring.
Eyewitnesses told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that construction material is being ferried through the Nishat Sathu–Rainawari road, which is meant for two-wheelers, as well as by boats into areas inside Dal Lake where construction work is underway. The movement of material and filling of several locations with soil have heightened concerns over encroachment and the gradual loss of the lake’s space.
The continuing activity raises questions about how construction material is reaching these locations and whether the work has been authorised by the concerned department. The LCMA’s visits have so far failed to provide a visible check on the reported activity, bringing renewed attention to the authority’s responsibility for monitoring and protecting the lake.
Dal Lake is among Kashmir’s most valuable natural assets, supporting tourism, livelihoods and the region’s fragile ecological balance. Unauthorized construction and filling threaten to further damage the water body and undermine efforts to conserve it. [KNT]
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