Students, experts join ‘Jannat’s Mission Dal Lake’ to highlight environmental neglect

Srinagar, December 7:  A renewed call for environmental accountability echoed across Dal Lake on Sunday as students, experts and civil society members joined ‘Jannat’s Mission Dal Lake’ in a public awareness drive aimed at exposing the deteriorating condition of the iconic water body. The initiative sought to contrast the frequently showcased, well-maintained stretches of the lake with the neglected sections suffering from poor planning and sustained ecological mismanagement.

At Ghat No. 1, volunteers highlighted one of the most pressing concerns—an exit channel that has remained closed due to engineering decisions that environmentalists say have worsened stagnation and pollution. The team demonstrated how the restricted flow has contributed to choking parts of the lake, accelerating weed growth and reducing water quality.

Students from several schools and colleges formed the core of the campaign, joined by legal and environmental experts. Advocate Nadeem Qadri’s team participated in the drive alongside noted environmentalist Dr. Touseef Ahmed, M. Yaqoob Dunoo, and prominent Dal conservationist Tariq Ahmad Patloo with his daughter Jannat, who leads the initiative. Social activist Hilal Ahmad from Sultana Bakery and former bureaucrat Khurshid Ahmad Ganai were also present. The event saw enthusiastic participation from the youngest volunteer, Fazil Ahmed Pala, as well as houseboat owners, shikarawalas and residents of surrounding hamlets.

Organisers issued a strong appeal to the public to stop dumping waste into the lake, stressing that the community’s behaviour is as critical as government intervention. ‘Jannat’s Mission Dal Lake’ said its focus is not only to expose gaps in lake management but also to build sustained public awareness and ownership over the protection of Kashmir’s fragile natural heritage.

The participants emphasised that meaningful conservation requires transparency, scientific planning and community engagement— elements they believe are still missing from the current approach to Dal Lake preservation.