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Kashmir seeks British help to save Dal Lake
SRINAGAR. India. O< I 19 Kashmir is urgently seeking assistance from Britain lo save its biggest tourist attraction, the picturesque, sweet water Dal Lake. from possible death tn the next 10 to 20 years, re porta AFP.
The first clear sign of the threatened extinction of the
I lake, which is surrounded by forested hills and terraced Mughui gardens came In mid August this year when a sticking film of red algae spread over the surface
The colour changed from blue to green aed blood red in
clear sunlight
Experts here say the disturbing phenomenon could spell disaster for the lake, home to Kashmir's famous tourist houseboats. The lake has already shrunk tn state from 32 square kilometers (13 square miles) to just 12 square kilometer* ( ftve square miles) because of human encroachment and pollution
According to well known Madras ecologist J J Pal. who was Invited by the state gov emment to examine the read algae threatening the lake the critical sector has been grow
ing acidity and a falling pH level in the water
Da) Lake used to be slightly alkaline most of the time. wtth a pH factor of 7.8. but after acid rains and snows In the catchment areas contaminated by smoke from oil well fires in the Oulf last winter the pH factor has dropped to 5 5
Since the dividing line between acidic and alkaline is considered to be a pH level of seven, and red algae thrives In an acidic medium. It la feared the whole lake will turn Into a vast marsh tn the next 20 yearn
A government statement circulated here in the state capital this week said the as ■istance sought from Britain would be for partial funding of a 229 million pound sterling (392 million dollar) project for the Integrated development of Sciraupar city and Dai l-skr
The statement pointed out that British aid. both technical and financial, would be sought to help solve the city's sewage and the lake a houseboat aani tattoo problem.
A high level committee of engineer* which met In 5riraqpar recently called for ef-
fective sewage disposal ays terns to be designed for houae boats, as well as homes and business establishments bordering the lake
The committee also ex
Cased the view that unless a
flow of fertiliser Into the lake waa stopped, pollution of the lake - much of which is organic In nature — could not be checked
The committee also de manded an Immediate end to human ancroachment. which has turned vast areas of the lake into -floating gardens '