It has been over a decade since the government declared the restoration of the Brari Nambal lagoon in Dal Lake a litmus test for the conservation of water bodies. However, on the ground, no scientific measures are visible or aimed at the restoration of the water body. The water body is marred with garbage mounds, weeds, and stagnant waters, emanating a pungent smell.

In the heart of Srinagar’s Downtown, the lagoon is on the verge of extinction. Better late than never, the issue of conservation of Brari Nambal echoed in the recent session of the Legislative Assembly. The house was informed that the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (J&KLCMA) has executed various projects under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation & Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and PMDP for preservation, conservation, beautification and development of Tourist facilities at Brari Nambal.

The Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, while replying to a question of Legislator Shamim Firdous on behalf of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, regarding the beautification of Brari-Nambal.

The Minister informed the House that under AMRUT, an amount of Rs. 876.024 Lakh is being spent on rejuvenation and revival of Brari-Nambal Lagoon through various means like dredging of main water body, dredging of its connected channels, viz. Rainawari and Nowpora Channels. Besides the construction of a 1000-meter walkway and slope stabilisation, removal of solid waste, restoration of damaged electric poles, repairs and renovation of existing grill fencing and installation of aerators.

It was also informed that for integrated development of tourist facilities at Brari-Nambal Lagoon, Rs. 627.122 Lakh is being spent under different initiatives like construction of food court near MP School, installation of a fountain near Shehri Khas Gate, construction of a central verge, construction of a jetty near Shehri-Khas Gate, construction of inner and outer pathways and providing of ornamental grill fencing.

In addition, the J&K LCMA has proposed to frame a DPR for further development and beautification of the Brarinambal, for which an RFP is under preparation and shall be floated in the next financial year. The government has been focusing on beautification and civil works, while Brari Nambal needs scientific measures to restore its glory. A vast stretch of the water body is used by scavengers to dump garbage and discarded items, including plastic.

The government must understand the immense ecological importance of Brari Nambal as it regulates its hydrology of Dal Lake. After a sustained campaign by Greater Kashmir, pressing for restoration of Brari Nambal, the Government in 2015 formulated a project for undertaking the water body’s conservation. Despite the passing of over a decade, the focus has been on civil engineering works! More than pathways, ornamental grills, and jetties, priority should have been on improving the lagoon’s water quality by plugging all pollution sources. Besides, the government is silent on massive encroachment of Brari Nambal.

We need to take lessons from the vision of the 14th-century King Zain-ul-Abidin, popularly called Budshah who launched conservation of Brari Nambal.

The king was so impressed by the crystal clear waters of Brari Nambal that he constructed steam baths popularly known as hamams on its banks. He ensured regular cleaning of the water body. The deterioration of Brari Nambal started in the 1970s after the filling up of its outflow channel, Nalla Mar, which snaked through Downtown. This severely affected the hydrology of Brari Nambal and left stagnant water until a 468 metre conduit was constructed from the water body to the river Jhelum at Fateh Kadal. But the water outflow of Brari Nambal is dependent on the water level of the Jhelum. If the water level in the Jhelum increases, the water regulatory gate is closed. Though experts have been recommending the construction of a network through big pipelines from Brari Nambal under Nallah Mar road to restore its natural outflow channel to some extent. It needs a more scientific approach to restore the water body.

The government must take note that Brari Nambal is passing through a putrefaction process; the hyper-eutrophic state with high density of algal blooms signifies a high pollution load.

We have already lost much of the water body. A large expanse of Brari Nambal has been encroached upon. In the absence of regulation, shops and other structures dot the lagoon on its banks. Scavengers dump plastic and non-biodegradable items in one part of Brari Nambal from the Khanyar side. It has been converted into a loading point for trucks rather than a junkyard.

What is the logic of constructing ornamental fencing and viewpoints when the water body is gasping for breath!

In conservation projects, each second matters. Damage done so far to the water body is irreparable. Even after all our efforts and use of the latest technology, we can only prevent further damage and fail to fully restore the water body to its pristine glory. Brari Nambal is not an impossible task to restore. Its conservation can serve as a model for other water bodies in Kashmir. Brari Nambal restoration just needs political and public will.

Brari Nambal can become one of the major recreation points in Downtown. Just what is needed is treat the water body as one part of our ecosystem. Also, the government must expedite the land acquisition process and duly compensate proprietary land owners as per prevailing rates to facilitate cleaning of core areas of the lagoon.

Future generations will hold the government accountable for failing the litmus test to restore Brari Nambal. It’s also the duty of people to protect and extend a helping hand for restoring water bodies.

Author is Executive Editor,

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