Srinagar, Mar 11: Jammu and Kashmir government has connected 570 houseboats in Dal Lake and 148 in Nigeen Lake to existing Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to curb pollution, an official document reveals.
Additionally, a new STP is planned under AMRUT-2.0 to cover remaining areas, reads the document,
“As part of the Aeration & Fountains Programme, 761 fountains have already been installed in seven clusters, while five more clusters with 1,300 additional fountains are set to be installed for Rs 8.71 crore,” the document revealed.
It also said that to further improve water quality, the J&K Lake Conservation & Management Authority has deployed Online Continuous Effluent Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) at five STPs. Other conservation initiatives include bio-methanation of lake waste, removal of 140,000 cubic meters of silt, and the retrieval of 20 navigation channels spanning 10 km.
“These measures are aimed at enhancing the lake’s aesthetics, improving water quality, and supporting long-term conservation efforts,” the document said further.
It may be recalled that Samudra Planet, a Kerala-based company, has joined hands with the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) to tackle the long-standing issue of fecal waste disposal in Dal Lake.
According to Open Digest, leveraging cutting-edge microbial technology developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) under a technology transfer agreement, Samudra Planet has installed bio-digesters on a few houseboats, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to protect Dal Lake.
Dal Lake attracts thousands of tourists annually. However, the growing popularity of houseboats has inadvertently led to significant environmental challenges, particularly the discharge of untreated human waste directly into the lake. This has resulted in water pollution, threatening the lake’s delicate ecosystem and its role as a vital resource for local communities.
“We have installed Bio-Digesters in a few houseboats on Dal Lake under a project to protect the lake from human fecal waste discharged from houseboats. It was the committee headed by E Sreedharan, former chief of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, that recommended the bio-digesters, which use anaerobic bacteria to break down human waste, converting it into pathogen-free, odorless water that can be safely discharged without polluting the lake. Additionally, the bio-digesters are maintenance-free, durable, and customizable to fit the unique requirements of houseboats,” said Samudra Planet Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Jeevan Sudhakaran.
According to E Sreedharan, the committee was constituted in 2018 as per the direction of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court to ascertain the measures required to restore and preserve Dal Lake, which has been shrinking due to illegal encroachment and disposal of untreated waste from houseboats.
“We were fully aware of the benefits of the Bio-Digesters as it’s the most scientifically validated system for treating human fecal waste without causing any pollution. The installation of bio-digesters has been a game-changer in the efforts to preserve Dal Lake. It addresses one of the major sources of pollution, restoring the lake’s ecological balance,” Sreedharan said.
“We are proud to collaborate with the Dal Lake Authority to address this critical issue. Our bio-digesters are designed to not only eliminate pollution but also promote environmental sustainability by ensuring zero contamination of groundwater sources. We expect other governments to adopt bio-digesters to protect other water bodies across India facing similar challenges,” Dr Jeevan added.