Better late than never!

Srinagar’s twin lakes, Khushalsar and Gilsar, in Downtown have been marred by extensive pollution and encroachments. Deterioration of these lakes has been expedited mainly due to official apathy and lack of conservation measures.

Successive regimes let the twin lakes die a slow death. They watched the lakes being filled up, encroached upon and turned into colonies. It is surprising that the government owned the twin lakes when these water bodies are in the last throes!

As per an official order by Housing and Urban Development Department issued on March 15, 2025, the management of Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes has been handed over to the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA). The LCMA has been tasked to undertake cleaning, constant monitoring and watch and ward of these twin lakes.

It is to be noted that LCMA has been engaged for over two decades with conservation of Dal Lake. With additional responsibility to restore Khushalsar and Gilsar, the LCMA will have to upgrade its men and machinery. LCMA needs to understand that restoring the twin lakes won’t be an easy task. LCMA is inheriting dying lakes and reviving these will require sustained scientific interventions.

The question is why did successive regimes neglect Khushalsar and Gilsar? These twin lakes were known for possessing clear waters with healing properties.  The twin lakes formed one of the outflow channels of Dal lake through the Nallah Amir Khan and helped to maintain its hydrology.
Owing to serene waters, the twin lakes were a favorite haunt of tourists. These lakes used to support several fish species and formed the habitat of migratory birds in its large strands of reeds and aquatic weeds. Khushalsar and Gilsar also provided high yield of fish and Nadru plantations supporting livelihood to fishermen and local inhabitants.

The flora and fauna of the twin lakes has been severely affected due to unabated flow of sewage from adjoining habitations. A large stretch of these lakes have been filled up and converted into garbage dumping yards.

Who is responsible for deterioration of the twin lakes? Who allowed the filling of these water bodies? Who permitted construction of houses and emptying of sewage directly into the twin lakes? These questions need to be answered and accountability must be fixed. Primarily, it was the responsibility of authorities to take care of these water bodies. But taking undue advantage of official apathy, unscrupulous people vandalised Khushalsar and Gilsar!

A large expanse of Khushalsar has vanished under concrete structure from Ali Jan Road side. At Gilsar, locals are gradually extending their land by filling up the lake. All this is happening in absence of regulation by authorities.

Over two decades ago, the government had formulated a comprehensive plan of Rs.61 crores for preservation of Khushalsar. The plan had been approved by the Central Government. The plan envisaged to protect the lake by removal of encroachment. The plan envisaged deploying Forest Protection Force personnel to keep strict vigil in Khushalsar for preventing further encroachment. Ironically the plan is gathering dust!

Much damage has been done to these lakes. Scientific studies have revealed that chemical parameters of Khushalsar and Gilsar have worsened  beyond permissible levels. As per studies, the twin lakes are passing through Eutrophication. The lakes are being choked due to dumping of garbage, springs feeding fresh lease of waters to these lakes too have been buried.
Despite facing stiff resistance from land mafia, an environmental group Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation undertook sustained cleaning drives in Khushalsar and Gilsar from the last four years. But in absence of Government’s efforts to ensure measures for solid waste management and preventing sewage influx, the condition of the twin lakes continued to deteriorate.

During an event organised by NLCO at Sazgipora area of Khushalsar lake on June 5, 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had stressed the need for collective efforts to reverse the degradation of ecosystems to boost livelihood, food security and prevent extreme weather.

Addressing a conference “Our Land, Our Future” on World Environment Day, the LG had stated that “Environment First is our vision and we are committed to revive the damaged ecosystem. The LG has rightly called upon NGOs, financial institutions, business organisations, volunteers, civil society members and individuals to act as agents of change and dedicate themselves towards ecological preservation and restoration.

It is an appreciable step that the government, better late than never, has finally woken up and acted to restore the glory of these twin lakes. MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq has proposed to transform interior water bodies including Khushalsar and Gilsar into eco-friendly villages. The legislator has submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) valued at Rs 180 crores, focusing on the development of these water bodies to the Centre. These kinds of eco-friendly initiatives can help to preserve the unique ecological and cultural heritage of these iconic water bodies. This will also ensure that tourism benefits flow directly to local communities and prompt people to keep the water bodies clean.

Government needs to understand that people’s participation is necessary for the conservation of water bodies. We have a perfect example of Dal lake where traditional methods of deweeding and dredging by lake dwellers are more economical and efficient than by machines.

Besides Khushalsar and Gilsar, other water bodies in Kashmir are craving for attention. The speed of conservation measures has to be faster than deterioration rate. Let’s join hands to conserve and protect our water bodies for our survival and future generations!

The author is Executive Editor, Greater Kashmir