Writes Kaiser A.Mir
Srinagar city has number of lakes and is rightly called the City of lakes. Among the famous lakes here, Anchar Lake has a distinct position. Once a famous tourist destination, today this Lake presents a gloomy scene. Due to encroachment, pollution, vegetation and above all lack of government aid, is now on the verge of extinction.
As per the historical records, Anchar was once connected to famous Dal Lake via channels
and people including tourists’ used to relish the tour from Dal to Anchar and vice-versa. But now due to mass urbanisation and undesirable human activities, Anchar Lake is now hardly visible and seems to be like a backyard pond.
According to the senior residents of Shawl-Baff Mohalla Soura near Anchar, the water of this lake was so healthy and clear that people would use it for domestic consumption. But now its water is not even fit for bathing. The pollution and the discharge of untreated effluents have contaminated the lake heavily. The water is contaminated due to direct dumping of sewage and waste material in the Lake from human settlements. Huge lump of garbage and even dead animals can be seen floating in lake. At the banks of lake the level of pollution is very high and it always remains a source of nuisance for the human population residing near it.
The various species of flora and fauna that was flourishing in Anchar Lake has now depleted to a large extent and it is now infested with dense weeds spread over almost entire area of the lake. Due to rapid growth of weeds and dumping of mud or soil brought by streams, the depth of lake is getting shallow. Taking advantage of all this some selfish and irresponsible people have converted lake into vegetation land where popular trees and Willow-wicker trees have been planted by them.
Nisar Ahmad (25 year old) young resident of Anchar Sour said, “During my childhood days I used to swim in this lake but now the water is so polluted that even we cannot wash our hand with this water. Moreover, we used to rear water birds but due to deterioration of lake their habitat has affected badly and you would hardly find a big group of birds moving in the lake. I have a dream that old glory of Anchar Lake would get restored and it would become a tourist hub.”
Pertinently, administration claims to have announced the allotment of huge funds to save some of the lakes in the state, which included the Anchar Lake as well. But from the ground analysis it is quite evident that the whole process is restricted to paper only or it is the victim of corruption. Whatever the reason is, whoever is responsible, the reality is that we are losing an important water body. Hence a Serious thought both from public as well as government is required to be given for the once popular tourist spot and ecologically vital Lake.