Urban planet story on Dal lake

Reporter: Fayaz Bukhari,
Camera: S Tariq,

(((shots of Dal lake with snow clad mountains in the background; shots houseboats, shots of houses in the lake, shots of floating gardens, lotus fields etc, general shots of the lake))
World famous Dal lake attracts lakhs of tourists every year.And this beautiful lake is fast squeezing and turning into a cesspool.for the last four decades the lake has shrunk from 24 square kilometers to just 11 square kilometers.

One of the main reason for appalling condition of the lake is city sewage that goes directly into the lake.but the bigger threat to the lake is from 60, 000 population that lives inside the lake and needs to be shifted.

Ali Muhammad is resident of the lake, his living comes form one acre of floating gardens where he grows vegetables.if he moves out how will he feed his seven member family.

Byte Ali Muhammad, resident Dal lake (Hindi)

"Our position is like fish out of water. If it comes out of water it will die. Same is the case with us, people living in the lake. If we come out of the lake, we will lose our living."

Byte Ghulam Rasool, Gen Secy Zamindar Association (Hindi)

"We don't need any plot or cash compensation. We need alternate source of living."

For the last few years around 300 crores rupees have been spent for the conservation of the lake but there has been no improvement as solid waste and sweage of the population living inside and around lake finds its way into the lake.for last three decades government is planning to shift the population but has failed so far.

Byte Mir Naseem, Vice Chairman Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (English)

"Sometimes one justifies these encroachments for the reasons that for last 25 years you have been telling people you will be rehabilitated and so far we have not been able to rehabilitate them."

PTC: "Despite pumping in hundreds of crores of rupees to preserve the lake there has been no significant improvement in the overall health of this water body. It seems that the money spend here goes down the drain. In Srinagar Fayaz Bukhari for NDTV.