Srinagar, Feb 10: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that 20 interior channels, around 10 kms in length, of Dal Lake have been retrieved by way of dredging, widening and deepening.
This was stated in a written reply to a question raised by MLA TanvirSadiq who asked the government whether several interior canals and waterways of Dal lake including were not been cleaned or dredged out for a considerable period of time resulting in accumulation of waste, garbage, silt, weeds, in these waterways.
He also questioned if there was a serious threat to the ecological existence of Dal lake as a whole besides severely damaging its fragile interior water system.
In a written reply, J&K Chief Minister who is the minister in-charge of Housing and Urban Development Department said there was no serious threat to ecological existence of Dal as regular cleaning of the water body was being done by the department.
The reply reads that dredging and widening of navigation channel from Houseboat New Baktooup to AncharMohalla inside Dal Lake was done while dredging and Widening of Navigation Channel from Dole DembuptoKachriMohalla in side Dal Lake was also carried by the department.
“Dredging and Widening of navigation channel from Houseboat Shamshad up to Vegetable market inside Dal Lake besides dredging and widening of navigation channel from Vegetable Market uptoKaniKachri (Nishat Bund) inside Dal lake was also done by the department,” the written reply reads.
The government listed around 21 works executed by the Housing and Urban Development Department to retrieve the navigation channels of the Dal.
“In addition, the Nallah Ameer Khan Channel was retrieved of Radhs and weeds in 2025 by deploying manual labours and is being maintained manually. Also the Radhs and weeds in SaidaKadal to Nowpora channel including BrariNumbal are being cleared manually,” the reply reads.
It reads that the deweeding, garbage and collection of solid waste from these channels, waterways was a routine and recurring activity being executed on annual basis from last many years through engagement of labours (Dal Dwellers) and deployment of Departmental Lake cleaning Machinery considering aesthetic, ecological and navigational importance of the said channels.
“So far as the Gilsar, Zoonimar channel is concerned it is submitted that the Gilsar and Khushalsar lakes have been handed over to J&K LCMA this year vide Govt. order No. 51-JK (HUD) of 2025 dated March 15 of 2025,” the reply reads.
It reads that the dredging of the main water body of the Khushalsar has been initiated by deploying Departmental Lake Cleaning Machinery and mechanical dredging operation is currently going on in the main waterbody of the Gilsar,” the reply reads.
It reads that During SEVA PARV, 5000 Square Mtr area Khushalsar and Gilsar Lakes has been dredged out.
“Besides, 19000 Sq. Mtr. is cleared from Azolla weed. The annual deweeding and solid waste operations being executed in Dal-Nigeen lakes including interior channels through outsourcing agencies shall be extended to the Zaoonimar, Gilsar and Khushalsar Lakes from next Financial year. DPR is under preparation,” the reply reads. The government further said that there was no neglected canal and backwaters.
“Surveys and estimation for execution of annual deweeding and collection of solid waste operations for next financial year is under process.
The government further said that the cleaning of Dal-Nigeen lakes including interior channels and waterways was a recurring activity being executed on an annual basis through an outsourced agency.
“The current contracts are in progress. The DPRs for the next FY-2026-27 are under process. Since the Khushalsar and Gilsar Lakes have been handed over to J&K LCMA only this year, the manual deweeding and solid waste management through outsourcing agency shall be executed in the said lakes from next FY-2026-27 and DPR is under preparation,” the reply reads.
It reads that the dredging of the main water body of Gilsar was already in progress and the same shall be continued and extended to Khushalsar.
“However, the dredging operations are to be conducted in a phased manner in consultation with the experts to avoid any ill effects on ecological life of the water bodies. A comprehensive DPR for rejuvenation of Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes area is under consideration,” it reads.
