Where does the Srinagar city’s sewage go? The mouth of the city’s 15 major drains open into the Dal Lake, polluting its waters on a daily basis. Here the Dal dwellers are not responsible; it is the J-K Government which has turned this water body into a sewage dump.

Contrary to the popular notion, the 1200 houseboats floating on the Dal waters are responsible for just three per cent of the lake’s pollution. The continuous flow of sewage into the lake from the neighbourhoods in and around it, however, is the bigger culprit.

The fifteen drains releasing sewage into the Dal are:

Nishat Pipe line bund (2 sites); Lower Brein village, Brein; Sheikh Mohalla, Brein; Drain at Karpora; Laam village exit; Pump station, Hotel Heemal; Dalgate Mohalla, Dalgate (2); Jogilanker, Rainawari; Hassanabad, Saidakadal (2); Khwaja Yarbal, Saidakadal; Hazratbal (2 sites); Pump station, Habak, Suderbal (2); Umer Colony, Lal Bazar; Brarinambal drain (3sites).

Water Inlets – Telbal Nallah, BotKol and others – MeerakShah and Pishpav streamlets.

Water Outlets - Dalgate, Nalla Amir Khan and drinking water supply pipe, Nishat.

According to the Detailed Project Report prepared by the University of Roorkee’s Alternate Hydro Energy Centre, the sewage brings with it nitrogen and phosphorus which has changed physical and chemical properties of Dal waters. “There are various point – tributaries and sewage drains – and non-point sources – seepage and diffuse runoff from catchment area – that bring these nutrients to the lake,’’ the report says.

The report explains that:

• The total phosphorus inflow into the lake is about 156.62 tons, of which 4.50 tons are from nonpoint sources within the lake and the rest comes from peripheral areas, mainly through well recognized entry points.

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