User:Haadiyahchishti1001

The Dal Lake, situated to the east and northeast of Srinagar city, falls in the Srinagar district, Kashmir. The lake is surrounded on all sides, except the south, by the slopes of high mountains. On the edge of this lake spread various villages, orchids and the famous Mughal Gardens, providing a splendid view. It has been the centre of Kashmiri Civilization since time immemorial. Nature had, thus, done much for this lake. There has never been a time when man has not modified his environment, but the changes that are taking place now are major and rapid as compared to the past. The Dal was perhaps one of the most beautiful spots in the world and looked like the city's aquatic plaza! It was one of the main elements that comprised the successful tourist formula, thus making the Kashmir Valley a wonderful tourist resort. The lake contributed about 16% of the States' income. About 42% workers were engaged in the activities in the lake. The water of Dal Lake was crystal-clear and people used to say that the famous shawls of Kashmir owe much of their excellence to being washed in the soft waters of this lake. Up to the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Dal Lake was undisturbed, but after the visit of the Mughal, emperors the changes started. The Mughal gardens were laid and in the 18th and 19th century Srinagar city started to grow towards the lake, which brought about far-reaching changes in its surroundings. Due to the construction of the bunds, roads, etc there occurred certain changes in the water-flow pattern and creation of large areas of stagnant water. The lake ecology changed due to poor sanitary conditions of the houseboat. Sewage was directly discharged into the lake, thus polluting it. The water body was going waste as the nutrient inflow from the catchment area began to give rise to excessive weed growth. This affected the water clarity and made the lake shallower. It was really strange that the very people benefiting from it were slowly destroying the lake, which was the center of beauty in Srinagar and attracted thousands of tourists every year. Dal Lake is facing serious pollution crises. The main risk factors of predicting a short life span of the lake include siltation of the lake, encroachments, inflow of sewage, excessive weeds growth and increase of certain chemical parameters. The lake area has decreased from 18 sq. miles to 2 n-files of open water (1883) and further to 10.56 sq. km. (1983). Due to the continuous flow of effluent waste in the Dal solid pollutants are deposited on the lake floor. Along the shores of this lake there is cutthroat competition for land grab by the businessmen, industrialists, and local bureaucrats. Its hydro chemical features reveal the ecological changes that have taken place. It is estimated that about 80000 tones of silt, 31000 kg of nitrates and 4000 kg of phosphates are added annually to the lake. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) has considerably increased whereas Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level has fallen below permissible limits. Various parameters exceed the permissible limits proposed by WHO.