The state government in an official communication has admitted that construction of STPs has been neglected resulting in increase of the level of pollution in the water bodies.
“Drainage, sewerage and construction of STPs have been the neglected areas in our developmental narrative. It is a matter of great concern that world famous tourist resorts of Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Patnitop, etc., do not have STPs and therefore discharge into various water bodies,” reveals a memo submitted by urban planning and development department.
“The city of Jammu has only one partially functional STP while Srinagar requires more STPs to tackle the problems of large amount of sewerage going into Dal lake causing perennial problems,” it adds.
Sewage treatment is the process of removing contaminants from wastewater, primarily from household sewage. It includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove these contaminants and produce environmentally safe treated wastewater (or treated effluent).
According to officials, as many as 25 drains of old Srinagar city flow without any treatment into the Dal Lake whereas liquid waste of 702 houseboats and 13 hotels within the Dal Lake also goes directly into the water body without any treatment.
Recently, union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has expressed concern over condition of Anchar, Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes here and asked the state government to take measures for conservation of these water bodies.
“Water bodies in Srinagar like Anchar, Khushalsar, Gilsar are in deteriorated condition and need immediate intervention,” the ministry states in a communique to state government.
“Based on the pre-feasibility report submitted for management of Anchar, Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes, the state government was informed to submit an integrated sewerage plan for the entire Srinagar city, as pollution from untreated sewer is a major factor for deterioration of these water bodies,” it adds.
A senior official of Housing and urban development department said that the proper drainage and sewerage treatment plants are most important in all the towns and tourist resorts of the state in order to safeguard our water bodies.
“Therefore the state administrative council in the recently passed budget allocated Rs 500 crore towards construction of drainage and sewerage, STPs and solid waste disposal plants across the state in the balance part of the current year and during next financial year.”
As a long-term strategy to for conservation of prominent water bodies in the state, including the Dal Lake, the Jhelum, the Chenab and the Tawi from pollution hazards, and for the restoration of pristine glory of twin capital cities viz. Jammu and Srinagar, the government will develop STPs of adequate capacities. Such STPs will also be developed in all major towns and prominent tourist resorts across the State, he added.
It may be mentioned that earlier the experts have stressed that the amounts allocated in the budgets should be ensured to be utilised in a time bound manner so that the works which are targeted to be completed, are completed on the ground.