Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6606 Volume||5||Issue||06||June-2017||Pages-6606-6617||ISSN(e):2321-7545 Website: http://ijsae.in Index Copernicus Value- 56.65 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/ijsre/v5i06.15
Socio Economic Validity of Lakes in Jammu and Kashmir
Authors
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray1, Dr Sutinder Singh2 Email id: [email protected] ABSTRACT
Jammu And Kashmir State is well known for its charming scenery. There are beautiful springs, lakes, rivers and their tributaries. All these add to its scenic beauty. The lakes of Kashmir valley are bounded on all sides by Himalayan Mountains. These lakes are irreplaceable natural water bodies’ abiding a rich and diverse gene pool. Lakes of the Jammu and Kashmir state are on among the most attractions of the tourists of the planet. A thorough study encompassing all environmental aspects, including socioeconomics, needs to be undertaken so as to frame an ecologically well balanced conservation strategy for this important aquatic ecosystem of the region. However, once beautiful water body has been the worst victim of the anthropogenic pressures during the second half of the 20th Century and has undergone tremendous ecological changes. In spite of innumerable conservation measures taken by the management authorities over the past two three decades, the ecological condition of the lake has deteriorated and it is getting enriched with plant nutrients and other pollutants, becoming more and more infested with macrophytes, getting slowly shallower and shallower and shrinking gradually in size.
Key Words: Dal Lake, Environment, Himalaya, Pir Panjal, Tourism, Water bodies.
1. INTRODUCTION
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6607 industry in the Valley. Summer is pleasant but winter is cold and there is snowfall. It rains from the middle of March to the middle of May in the valley with an annual rainfall of about 75 cms. Road transport is common in the valley but the river Jhelum still serves as one of the means of transportation. There is also Air Service from Delhi and Jammu to Srinagar and Ladakh. One thing a person can really relate J&K with are lakes. The city of Srinagar is known for its lakes, Dal being the centre of attraction in the sightseeing itinerary. One can almost see the whole city travelling through a Shikara on Dal, as most of the sightseeing places are easily accessible via Dal. Quite scenic lakes are also situated around Jammu too, including Surinsar and Mansar Lakes. If one lures to visit the lakes on the high altitude then check out the lakes Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri in Ladakh, which beside offering a natural panorama are quite good places of Jeep Safari.
2. OBJECTIVES:
To highlight the opportunities and problems of the Lakes of Jammu and Kashmir. To expose and explore the socio economic validity of the lakes in Jammu and Kashmir. To know the present scenario of lakes and water bodies in Jammu and Kashmir.
3. THE IMPORTANCE OF LAKES
Healthy lakes and their shores not only provide us with a number of environmental benefits but they influence our quality of life and they strengthen our economy. Proper lake function can ease the impact of floods and droughts by storing large amounts of water and releasing it during shortages. Lakes also work to replenish groundwater, positively influence water quality of downstream watercourses, and preserve the biodiversity and habitat of the area. When the ecological puzzle pieces of a lake come together and the lake is able to work as it should, the big picture is clear, we all stand to benefit from this important resource. Lakes can provide us with prime opportunities for recreation, tourism, and cottage or residential living. They are also respected by many people for their historical and traditional values and may be a source of raw drinking water for a municipality. Lakes can also be used as a water supply for industry and an irrigation source for agriculture. So you see lakes are more than just a simple body of water used by many people to enjoy recreational activities. They are important ecosystems that, when respected and cared for, can sustain a healthy balance of aquatic life, provide us with much enjoyment, and help support our socio-economic needs. It is our responsibility to continue to practice stewardship in our lakes by keeping them healthy for all, especially those who depend on them.
4. MOST BEAUTIFUL LAKES IN INDIA
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6608
5. MOST POPULAR LAKES OF INDIA AND HIMALAYAS REGION LAKES
5.1 Dal - A Lake Made of Lakes
The urban lake, which is the second largest in the state, is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the "Jewel in the crown of Kashmir" or "Srinagar's Jewel". The lake is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant harvesting. Dal Lake is, initially, one of the most confusing parts of Srinagar for it's not really one lake at all, but three. Furthermore much of it is hardly what one would expect a lake to be like - it's a maze of intricate waterways and channels, floating islands of vegetation, houseboats that look so firmly moored they could almost be islands and hotels on islands which look like they could simply float away. The lake is located within a catchment area covering 316 square kilometres (122 sq mi) in the Zabarwan mountain valley, in the foothills of the Zabarwan Range, which surrounds it on three sides. The lake, which lies to the east and north of Srinagar city covers an area of 18 square kilometers (6.9 sq mi), although including the floating gardens of lotus blooms, it is 21.2 square kilometers (8.2 sq mi) (an estimated figure of 22–24 square kilometres (8.5–9.3 sq mi) is also mentioned). The main basin draining the lake is a complex of five interconnected basins with causeways; the Nehru Park basin, the Nishat basin, the Hazratbal basin, the Nagin basin and the Barari Nambad basin. The lake is divided into Gagribal, Lokut Dal and Bod Dal by a series of causeways. The shore line of the lake, is about 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi), is encompassed by a boulevard lined with Mughal era gardens, parks, houseboats and hotels. Scenic views of the lake can be witnessed from the shore line Mughal gardens, such as Shalimar Bagh and Nishat Bagh built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir and from houseboats cruising along the lake in the colourful shikaras. During the winter season, the temperature sometimes reaches −11 °C (12 °F), freezing the lake.
5.2 Nigeen (Nagin) Lake
Nigeen Lake, which is usually thought of as a separate lake, is also divided from Dal Lake only by a causeway. The causeways are mostly suitable for walkers and bicycles only so they make a very pleasant way of seeing the lake without having to worry about traffic or Shikaras. The Nigeen Lake is surrounded by a large number of willow and poplar trees. Hence, it has come to be referred as a "nageena", which means "the jewel in the ring". The word "nigeen" is a local variant of the same word. Overview of Dal Lake around Nehru Park The main causeway across the lake carries the water pipeline for Srinagar's main water supply. Dal gate, at the city end of Dal Lake, controls the flow of the lake into the Jhelum river canal. It's the steady flow of water through the lake, combined with its relatively cold temperature, which keeps it so clear looking. The lake is a major tourist attraction in Srinagar, known for its relatively pristine waters as compared to the Dal Lake. Houseboats and Shikaras are a usual sight. It is also ideal for swimming, being deeper and less crowded than the Dal Lake.
5.3 Mansar Lake
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6609 5.4 Wular Lake
Wular Lake (also spelt Wullar), One of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia, is in Bandipora district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The lake basin was formed as a result of tectonic activity and is fed by the Jhelum River. The lake's size varies seasonally from 12 to 100 square miles (30 to 260 square kilometers). Boating, water sports and water ski have recently been launched by the Government of India Tourism in collaboration with Kerala Tourism and J&K Tourism. The contract for the operation of the site was awarded in September 2011. The lake, calm though it may appear, is noted for the fierce winds that sometimes blow up. The deepest part of the lake is known as Mota Khon, the 'Gulf of corpses', since the bodies of people drowned in the lake were all supposed to be washed to this place. At one time there was an artificial island on the lake, where boatmen could shelter if the weather turned bad, but silting on that side of the lake has joined the island to the lakeside. It's now a popular picnic spot. The lake is one of the 26 Indian wetlands designated as a Ramsar site. However it faces environmental threats including the conversion of large parts of the lake's catchment areas into agriculture land, pollution from fertilizers and animal wastes, hunting of waterfowl and migratory birds and weed infestation in the lake itself.
5.5 Anchar Lake
Anchar Lake is a lake in highly deteriorated condition located near Soura area in the city of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Situated close to Ganderbal, The Lake is connected with the famous Dal Lake via a channel "Amir Khan Nallah", just as the Dal-gate connects Dal to the Nagin Lake. In case of flooding, the excessive water of Dal is diverted here. Once a popular tourist destination as tourists on shikaras and houseboats used to travel here from Dal Lake, over the years it has deteriorated owing to pollution, large scale encroachment, and illegal constructions in its surroundings. In the 1990s, when the Nallah Mar was covered to build the Mearplan highway around western side of Dal, six-foot pipes were laid under the new road, to allow Dal to continue to drain into the Anchar lake system, however the pipes soon clogged due to waste and debris. Like the Dal Lake and Wular Lake, it is home to the Hanji community which lives near the lake in an area called as Anchar among the locals.
5.6 Brari Nambal (Bab Demb)
Brari Nambal, also known as Bab Demb, is a small freshwater lake located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. It is connected to the Dal Lake via a channel and is therefore sometimes referred to as a lagoon of the Dal Lake. Until the 1970s, it had a primary outflow in the form of the Mar Canal, but after the landfilling of this canal, the lake began to lose its glory. It is currently in highly deteriorated condition while efforts to revive it are on.
5.7 Gadsar Lake (Yemsar Lake)
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6610 been any attempt made by anyone to find the reality. The fishes are being caught outside the lake in a stream from which it flows out.
5.8 Gangabal Lake (Gangbal)
The Gangabal Lake also called Gangbal Lake, is a lake situated at the foothills of Mount Haramukh (the highest mountain peak in the vicinity of Kashmir valley) in Ganderbal district, north of Srinagar city in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is an alpine high altitude oligotrophic lake, home to many species of fish, including the brown trout. The lake has a maximum length of two and a half kilometres and maximum width of one kilometre. It is fed by precipitation, glaciers and springs. The lake water outflows to a nearby Nundkol Lake and then via Wangath nallah to Sind River. The trout fishes are present in the lake. In Hindu tradition Gangbal is also called Harmukut Ganga, and it is believed that this place is as pious as Haridwar where Hindu pilgrims perform prayers and immerse ashes of the dead. A traditional annual three-day-long yatra has been revived by APMCC and Kashmiri Pandits to preserve their cultural and religious history. This Harmukh Gangbal Yatra is performed annually in the month of September.
5.9 Kausar Nag (Kausarnag)
Kausar Nag or Kausarnag is a high-altitude oligotrophic lake located in the Pir Panjal Range in the Kulgam District of the Indian state of Kashmir. The lake is roughly 2 miles long and half a mile at the widest point.[1] The trek to Kausarnag is via the famous waterfall of Aharbal. The lake is located in a valley that is surrounded by peaks on all sides with elevation in excess of 4000 metres above sea level.
According to Panun Kashmir, the lake is one of the two places in Kashmir Valley that is associated with worship of „Visnupad‟. The other shrine of „Visupad‟ is located in the foothills of Pir Panjal at Fatehpur, in Dooru-Shahbad tehsil, not much away from Verinag (Nilkunda) spring. Fatehpur shrine houses as per local folklore, footprints of Visnu on a stone.
5.10 Gil Sar
Gil Sar is a freshwater lake in highly deteriorated condition, located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The lake is sometimes considered a part of the Khushal Sar Lake but is separated from it by a narrow strait, which is spanned by a bridge known as Gil Kadal. The Gilsar Lake is connected to the Nigeen lake via Nallah Amir Khan.
5.11 Khushal Sar
Khushal Sar is a lake in highly deteriorated condition, located in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. It has been encroached upon at many places with illegal construction and landfilling. The lake once stretched from Zoonimar up to the Aali Masjid but now it is considerably reduced. It is connected to the Anchar lake via a small channel. Another smaller lake, known as Gilsar, is connected to the Khushal Sar via a narrow strait, which is spanned by a bridge known as Gil Kadal. The Gilsar lake is in turn connected to the Nigeen lake via the Nallah Amir Khan. Until the 1970s, the Mar Canal drained into this lake providing navigability up to Ganderbal via the Anchar lake. After the filling up of the Mar Canal, the condition of the lake deteriorated further.
5.12 Manasbal Lake
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6611 The rootstocks of lotus plant which grows extensively in the lake are harvested and marketed, and also eaten by the local people.
5.13 Nundkol Lake (Kalodaka Lake)
The Nundkol Lake or Nund Kol also known as Kalodaka Lake is an oligotrophic alpine lake situated in the Kashmir Valley, in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The Nundkol Lake lies at the foothills of Mount Haramukh (5,142 metres (16,870 ft)). The Gangabal Lake which is bigger and at higher elevation lies 1.5 km to the north of the lake. Surrounded by the lush green meadows, the banks of the Nundkol Lake serve as the camping site during the summers. Naranag is the nearest settlement and serves as the base camp for trekking to the lake. The Nundkol Lake is fed by Gangabal Lake and the melting glaciers of the Mount Haramukh. It gives rise to Wangath Nallah, the major right tributory of the Sind River.
5.14 Pangong Tso (Pangong Lake)
Pangong Tso; Tibetan for "long, narrow, enchanted lake", also referred to as Pangong Lake, is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 m (14,270 ft). It is 134 km (83 mi) long and extends from India to Tibet. Approximately 60% of the length of the lake lies in Tibet. The lake is 5 km (3.1 mi) wide at its broadest point. All together it covers 604 km2. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water. It is not part of Indus river basin area and geographically a separate land locked river basin. The lake is in the process of being identified under the Ramsar Convention as a wetland of international importance. This will be the first trans-boundary wetland in South Asia under the convention. Pangong Tso is in disputed territory. The Line of Actual Control passes through the lake. A section of the lake approximately 20 km east from the Line of Actual Control is controlled by China but claimed by India. The eastern end of the lake is in Tibet. After the mid-19th century, Pangong Tso was at the southern end of the so-called Johnson Line, an early attempt at demarcation between India and China in the Aksai Chin region.
5.15 Satsar Lake (Sat Sar )
The Satsar Lake or Sat Sar (literal English translation: “the seven lakes”) consists of seven small alpine lakes situated in the Kashmir, in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The Satsar Lake consists of seven small lakes connected with each other, set in a cascade formation. The lakes are situated in a narrow alpine valley stretching from north to south and spread over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) distance with a width of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi). The lakes of Gangabal and Nundkol lie on the opposite side of Zajibal pass (4,041 metres (13,258 ft)). The Satsar Lakes are surrounded by lush green meadows which are home to shepherds during summer and serve as a camping site for tourists. Naranag is the nearest settlement and serves as the base camp for trekking to the lake in the summer. The Satsar Lake is mainly fed by melting snow. During the late summer and autumn, two or three lakes usually dry up, depending upon the precipitation. These lakes give rise to a stream which disappears and flows underground, from the sideby glacier a stream originates and flows down southwards and falls into Wangath Nallah through Churnar which is the major right tributory of the Sind River.
5.16 Sheshnag Lake
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6612 mostly fed by melting of snow and streams coming down from mountain tops. It drains out through a stream which joins Lidder River at Pahalgam.
5.17 Tarsar Lake (Tar Sar )
The Tarsar Lake or Tar Sar is an almond-shaped, oligotrophic alpine lake situated in the Kashmir Valley, specifically in Aru, Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The Tarsar Lake is dominated by the peaks of the Kolahoi mountain massif some 20 km to the east. The lake is separated by a mountain with a minimum peak elevation of 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) from another lake of the same nature known as Marsar Lake, which is in the vicinity of Dachigam National Park. Together these two lakes are referred to as the twin sisters. The 16th-century Kashmiri ruler Yusuf Shah Chak mentioned the twin lakes in his poetry, writing to his beloved: “When I remember the two tresses of the comely beloved, Tears begin to flow from my eyes like streams from Tarsar and Marsar”. The Tarsar Lake is drained by an outlet stream which falls into the Lidder River at Lidderwat, 15 km to the east. Being the nearest seasonal settlement, Lidderwat is located on the trek route to the lake from Aru, Pahalgam. The Marsar Lake on the other hand drains out and flows in the opposite direction of the Tarsar Lake.
5.18 Tso Kar or Tsho kar
The Tso Kar or Tsho kar, known for its size and depth, is a fluctuating salt lake situated in the Rupshu Plateau and valley in the southern part of Ladakh in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Tso Kar is connected by an inlet stream at its south-west end to a small lake, Startsapuk Tso, and together they form the 9 km2 More plains pool, which is dominated by the peaks of two mountains, Thugje (6050 m) and Gursan (6370 m). From the geology of the More Plains, it can be concluded that the Tso Kar in historical times ranged up to this high valley. Until a few years ago the lake was an important source of salt, which the Changpa nomads used to export to Tibet.
5.19 Tso Moriri (Lake Moriri)
Tso Moriri or Lake Moriri, is a lake in the Ladakhi part of the Changthang Plateau (literally: northern plains) in Jammu and Kashmir in northern India. The lake is at an altitude of 4,522 m (14,836 ft). It is the largest of the high altitude lakes entirely within India and entirely within Ladakh in this Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region. The official name of the land and water reserve here is the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve. The lake is fed by springs and snow-melt from neighboring mountains. Most water enters the lake in two major stream systems, one entering the lake from the north, the other from the southwest. Both stream systems include extensive marshes where they enter the lake. It formerly had an outlet to the south, but this has become blocked and the lake has become an endorheic lake. The lake is oligotrophic in nature, and its waters are alkaline.
5.20 Tulian Lake
Tulian Lake a lake and tourist destination at Pahalgam in Anantnag District of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It lies at an altitude of 3,353 metres (11,001 ft) above sea level,[2] 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from Pahalgam and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Bai Saran. The lake often has chunks of ice floating in it. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains that rise 300 metres (980 ft) above it and that are usually covered with snow. It is located in a meadow dotted with pine forests. The lake lies between the two Himalayan mountain ranges of Pir Panjal and Zanskar.
5.21 Vishansar Lake
snow-Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6613 covered mountains and their gorges filled with small glaciers and the meadows around; with alpine flowers is an attraction for the trekkers in the Kashmir Valley. It is fed by the Krishansar Lake and glaciers. The Vishansar Lake is the source of Neelum River which flows northwards up to Badoab and then westwards through Gurais along the Line of Control. The Gadsar Lake lies some 9 km in west crossing Gadsar Pass.
6. NAGA WORSHIP
A large number of temples were built near springs and were dedicated to the worship of nagas. The Nilamatapurana admits that nagas reside in lakes and springs. These places have become great centres of religious pilgrimage. The place names of certain areas, e.g. Verinag, Anantnag and Seshanag even today remind one of the intimate relations between the valley and the popularity of the Naga cult. The Rajatarangini of Kalhana mentions Sushravas and Padma Nagas, who were tutelary deities connected with the Wular lake. The Dikpalas of Kashmir are believed to be four nagas, viz. Bindusara in the east, Srimadaka in the south, Elapatra in the west and Uttarmansa in the north.There are many festivals in Kashmir which have a bearing on the worship of Nagas, for example during the first snowfall, Nila, the Lord of Nagas, is worshipped. The Nagas are also propitiated in April and are related to Iramanjari Puja and to Varuna Panchmi, which is organised in July-August. Kashmir spoke highly of the festival in the darker half of the month of Jyeshtha, when a big festival is organised to propitiate the king Taksakyatra. The Nilamatapurana listed 527 Nagas that were worshipped in Kashmir. In the account of Abul Fazal, the court historian of Akbar, there are references to seven hundred places sacred to serpents. The Nilamatapurana also draws attention to the close association of the cult of Nagas and that of Shiva. In the Mahabharata and Harivamsa texts, Sesha was considered the son of Shiva. Such an attempt at compromise was also attempted between the cult of Vaishnava and the cult of Nagas. The Nagas became Vishnu in the seshashayi form, which belongs to water cosmology, and his images were made accordingly. Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna, is the personification of the snake and he is Ananta incarnated in human form. Names like Vishnasar and Krishnasar carry Vaishnavite import. Interestingly, the word sar stands for reservoir. The goddess Lakshmi is said to have taken the form of the river Visoka (now known as the Vishov) to purify the people of Kashmir. Most probably, treating springs and rivers with great reverence wittingly or unwittingly resulted in the ecological balance necessary for a healthy and natural interaction between the environment and man.
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6614 7. ECONOMIC FALLOUT
Towns like Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Srinagar and Sopore – must-see places on the tourist map of the valley – owe their existence to water bodies. These include the Lidder River, the Hokarsar wetland, Dal Lake, Wullar Lake and the Manasbal Lake. According to tourism department officials, over 10 lakh tourists visit these places annually and around three lakh people are directly and indirectly dependent on these tourist places for their livelihood. The multimillion dollar handicrafts industry of Kashmir, which gives employment to over two lakh people, is also heavily dependent upon the arrival of tourists in the region. A study on the Impact of Tourism Industry on Economic Development of Jammu and Kashmir says that almost 50-60% of the total population of Jammu and Kashmir is directly or indirectly engaged in tourism-related activities. The industry contributes 15% to the state‟s GDP.Another big contribution of Kashmir‟s water bodies to the state‟s economy is the revenue generated through taxation of water usage for electricity generation by power development agencies like the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation. According to Jammu and Kashmir‟s Economic Survey of 2014, revenue of Rs 24.2 crore has been realized since 2010 on account of water usage charges on hydroelectric projects in the state. It is estimated that over 1.5 lakh Kashmiris get direct and indirect employment from sand extraction and fishing. Figures available with the geology and mining department suggest that sand worth 15 crore is extracted each year from Kashmir‟s water bodies, particularly from the Jhelum and its tributaries, through the organised sector. This does not take into account the fact that 40% of sand extraction – worth Rs 7.5 crore – is carried out illegally, an official said on condition of anonymity. Fisheries is another big livelihood generation sector linked to the water bodies. Masood Hussain Balkhi of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology said that aquatic resources of Jammu and Kashmir form about 16% of the total area of inland aquatic resources of India. Fisheries are an Rs 5.5 crore industry in Kashmir and employ over 90,000 people both directly and indirectly.His colleague, Farooz Ahmad Bhat, added that annual fish production of the region is 20,000 tonnes. Fish diversity and production in Kashmir have shown a sharp decline over the past few decades and some local fish species had even become endangered and threatened. The ramagurun (Botia birdi), for instance, which was once abundant, has now almost disappeared as has the algaad (Schzothorax niger), Bhat said, blaming encroachment, pollution and siltation.
8. WATERLOGGED WEALTH OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR
The valley is having numerous lakes and wetlands at different altitudes which are divided into two categories:-
High altitude lakes (Gangabal,Vishan Sar, Kishan Sar, Sheesh Nag, Nilnag, Kauser Nag etc) Valley lakes ( Wullar, Dal, Manasbal, Aanchar, Ahansar, Hokersar, Haigam etc.)
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6615 the past developed and flourished around the water bodies. The Indus valley civilization and the Nile valley civilization are the most important examples in this regard, which were developed around the rivers Indus andNile,respectively.Jammu and Kashmir state has a number of water bodies like springs locally known as baolis, popnds or tablabs, lakes, streams and rivers. The lakes confined to high altitudes such as Sheshnag, Kousernag, Vishnusar, Nilnag, Gangabal etc, have different nature of biota than those which are situated in the plains. Among others the Dal lake present in the heart of Srinagar city of Kashmir valley is world famous owing to its tourist attraction. Historically, this lake has played an important role in the economy of the state. Once claimed as the purest and the largest natural water body, the Wular lake is not only famous in Asia but is also of International importance. However, it is a great pity that this lake is still subjected to deterioration due to one or the other reason. Similar is the status of Mansar and Suriansar lakes of Jammu region. Infact, these water bodies as well rivers, canals and ponds are dying owing to the negligence of man. Hence, it becomes the duty of every one of us to protect various water bodies for the posterity. Waterlogged wealth is afflicted with a number of sufferings which may arise due to social, developmental and geographical causes. The sufferings faced by the waterlogged wealth‟s are siltation, eutrophication, encroachments, reclamation, shrinking of the area and pollution.
8.1. Clear and present danger: Having destroyed the water bodies, people have become vulnerable to exacerbated natural disasters like flooding. The September 2014 floods, the worst in Kashmir in six decades, inundated Srinagar and at least 50 villages and killed 200 people, apart from directly affecting 20 lakh people across the region.“Kashmir Valley is essentially a flood plain of the river Jhelum and its tributaries, rivulets, streams and canals,” All the valley lakes and the vast associated swamps played an important role in maintaining the uniformity of flows in the river Jhelum. In the past, during the peak summers, whenever the river would flow high, these lakes and swamps used to act as places for storage of excessive water and thereby prevented large areas of the valley from floods.”While the impact of human activities and natural processes has already put Kashmir‟s people in danger, the deterioration of water bodies will intensify further if required measures are not taken in time. The need of hour is definitely to look into the causes of deterioration and start taking measures for conservation of water bodies accordingly.
8.2. Siltation: It is perhaps the most common problem faced by many of the aquatic ecosystems especially during rainy season. The sediments flowing into the Dal lake brought from Dachigam and Telbel catchments of Kashmir is found to be about 9 hectare meter in flood year than normal precipitation year where this figure is 4.16 hectare meter. The southern slopes of these catchment are denuded of forest cover. Uncontrolled grazing is the main cause of denudation which during rains creates large soil erosion and floods, thus silting the lake. Similarly entire catchment of Kashmir valley upto Sopore which ultimately drains into the Wular lake is the main cause of siltation. Massive sedimentation and siltation accompanied with inflow of waste have also damaged the geometry of the SurinsarandMansarlakes.
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6616 purposes like setting up of industries, agriculture etc, which results in the reduction of the aquatic ecosystems. According to German traveler, G.I. Vigne, who visited the Mansar lake more than 100 years ago, the length of the lake was more than a mile (1.6 Km) and quite half a mile (0.8 Km) width. But now this lake is nearly half that size. Similarly, the Suriansar lake is shrinking in its length and width due to heavy siltation and encroachments. Likewise the Wular lake of Kashmir has shrunk in area tremendously. 8.6. Pollution: By and large, all the aquatic ecosystems of the country including those of Jammu and Kashmir are now facing the problem of pollution of their water. But to talk of the wetlands of India, about 50 per cent of the world‟s major rivers are seriously depleted and polluted and poisoning the surrounding ecosystems, thereby threatening the health of tens of millions of people. Over use and misuse of land and water resources in river basins constitute the primary cause for rivers decline. The solid wastes and sewers from human habitants on the periphery of various wetlands are the main factors causing pollution in the rivers Jhelum, Chenab, Tawi as well as in lakes like Mansar, Suriansar, Wular and Dal lakes. Thanks to Lawda, by the efforts of which five sewage treatment plants have been laid to improve the condition of the Dal lake water (Yasin, 2013). Now, the five such sewage treatment plants are in operation which has the capacity to treat 36.7 million litres of sewage every day.
8.7. Protection Measures: Creation of awareness regarding the importance of waterlogged wealth among the general masses, monitoring water quality of aquatic ecosystems, adoption of a system approach, checking of construction activities, a forestation and ecological rehabilitation and management, are some of the important measures to protect various aquatic ecosystems for the posterity. 8.8. Creation of awareness and monitoring of water quality: Awareness creating among the people through seminars, symposia, training camps is one of the steps required to be taken up for controlling the sufferings of waterlogged wealth. It becomes the duty of everyone of us to help in controlling pollution of the water bodies for preservation of water for the coming generations. Regular water quality monitoring of different aquatic systems must be done in collaboration with Pollution Control Board‟s scientists. 8.9. Adoption of a system approach, Control of Construction activities and Afforestation: The key to any planning exercise for protection and management of wetlands must have scientific and socioeconomic aspects in view. Wherever it is possible, developmental construction activities within or around the aquatic ecosystems must be checked. Afforestation in various catchment areas in general and in the peripheries of aquatic ecosystems in particular is very essential to save them from deterioration. While afforestation, planting of local tree/plant species are required to be encouraged.
CONCLUSION
Dr Musroor Ahmad Tantray, Dr Sutinder SinghIJSRE Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2017 Page 6617 due to land fill is quickly destroying these valuable assets. The nutrient enrichment of waters in these lakes is slowly poisoning the water bodies with high algal blooms and growth of other sea weeds. If such activities are not controlled, all these beautiful and valuable places will end forever. The involvement of local people along with government will help in this case. Though efforts in this direction have already been made with deceleration of some bodies as Ramsar Sites and relocation of people from nearby vicinities, removal of weeds etc., and lot needs to be done more to preserve these assets.
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