In a significant development, the authorities at Udaipur will be using the renowned Dal Lake in Srinagar as a model for the conservation of its own lakes, which are currently facing multiple problems including pollution and siltation.

Dal Lake

Under the National Lake Conservation Program, five lakes of Rajasthan (including our very own Pichola and Fateh Sagar) would be restored at a cost of Rs 197.59 crores. Apart from this, the DPRs for conservation of 12 others lakes including Udaipur’s Goverdhan Sagar and Udaisagar would be put together.

A six member team has been put together and sent to Srinagar to understand the conservation approach at Dal Lake.

“We will be assessing every aspect of Dal conservation. On the basis of our assessment, we will recommend suitable measures for conservation of lakes in Rajasthan,” said Garb who is also the advisor to Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Government of Rajasthan.

The Secretary of Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) in Udaipur, RP Sharma, who is part of the team on visit to Srinagar, says “Dal Lake has a comparatively different eco-system as the water bodies in Rajasthan. However, their conservation mechanism is very much the same.”

Unlike Dal Lake, which is fed by glaciers and springs, our lakes are mostly dependent on rains. But just like Dal, the lakes in Rajasthan face the same problems, the major two being pollution and siltatation.

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“The focus of our visit would be to ascertain the conservation measures like catchment and sewage treatment and include them for salvaging our lakes,” Sharma said.

The vice-chairman of and Waterways Development Authority, Irfan Yasin, said the Ministry of Environment and Forests is content regarding the pace of the lake’s restoration on the basis of regular monitoring of the Dal conservation.

Let’s hope for the best in the restoration of the lakes of Udaipur!