Srinagar, Oct 13: Once pristine streams that served as freshwater channels and supported everyday life in Srinagar are now grappling with pollution and garbage accumulation, prompting the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) to initiate measures for their cleaning and restoration.
According to officials, the authority has taken up the restoration of major water bodies falling under its jurisdiction to maintain water flow, improve water management and ensure the long-term conservation of Dal Lake.
An LCMA official, privy to the development, told Rising Kashmir that the initiative aims to revive the tributaries and restore their role in maintaining the lake’s ecological balance.
He said Choont Koul and Gagribal would be cleaned and restored at the earliest.
“All the water bodies under our jurisdiction will be cleaned up and restored,” he said.
Recently, LCMA Vice Chairman Khurshid Ahmad Shah conducted a detailed assessment of the condition of Choont Koul and the Dal Lock Gate. He reviewed the water channel, adjoining stretches and associated hydraulic infrastructure.
Shah stressed the importance of maintaining the channel to ensure the smooth movement of water and effective management of Dal Lake’s water levels.
He directed the concerned officers to undertake cleanliness and site-clearance measures along Choont Koul and its adjoining stretches. The officers were also asked to identify locations requiring desilting, dredging, removal of obstructions and other restoration measures so that the works could be undertaken systematically within a stipulated time frame.
Locals said the tributaries had undergone a significant transformation over the years. They recalled a time when children would bathe in the streams, while women used the flowing water to wash clothes and utensils.
However, they said garbage, particularly polythene, now accumulates along the embankments and in the water, diminishing the streams’ appearance and utility.
“These tributaries were used by children for bathing and by women to wash clothes and utensils. However, their charm and glory are no longer visible. They have been reduced to places where people throw garbage,” locals said.
Environmental experts attribute the deterioration of these water channels to a combination of inadequate attention from authorities and public negligence.
Choont Koul, which connects Dal Lake with the Jhelum river system, was also historically used for water transportation, highlighting its importance beyond water management and environmental conservation.
