Home / Environment / NGT Acts on Manasbal Lake Sewage Crisis
NGT Acts on Manasbal Lake Sewage Crisis
5 Feb
Summary
- NGT seeks explanation for sewage discharge into Manasbal Wetland.
- Pollution control boards to assess Manasbal Lake's water quality.
- Untreated sewage allegedly from 14 villages enters wetland.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has initiated action regarding the alleged discharge of untreated sewage into Jammu and Kashmir's Manasbal Wetland. Notices have been issued to the union territory's administration and relevant pollution control authorities. The Central Pollution Control Board and the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee are tasked with assessing the wetland's water quality and identifying pollutant sources.
The plea, filed by an environmental activist, alleges that domestic sewage from approximately 14 villages is entering the Manasbal Wetland through the Lar Canal. This continuous inflow of raw sewage is reportedly compromising the wetland's water quality and threatening its long-term ecological sustainability. The NGT has set April 22 for its next hearing and requires a status report.
Manasbal Lake, a significant freshwater body in Kashmir, holds importance for local ecology, fisheries, and tourism. It is a notified wetland under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. Scientific studies indicate increased aquatic vegetation, a sign of nutrient enrichment from sewage and agricultural runoff, warning of eutrophication and ecological stress.
