Boatmen and Status of Dal Lake and Its Environs: A Tale of Srinagar

Abstract

The paper explores how rapid urbanization in Srinagar (India) has led to the decay of the environment of Dal Lake – one of the most tourist frequented locations in India, and the impact it has had on the local aboriginal community of Hanjis who are dependent on the Lake for their livelihoods. Rapid urbanization has led to shrinking in the area of the Lake and deterioration in water quality, coupled with increasing exploitation of natural resource available. Ironically, most of the over-exploitation of resources and pollution of the lake is attributable to the Hanjis themselves as they are unable to perceive the harm their community is likely to face in the long-run of these actions as economic sustenance and livelihoods of this community is completely dependent on the well-being of the Lake. There is a need for taking immediate action both from the Hanjis community, as well as from the government, and a need for them to work collectively. Participatory development efforts in planning need to be taken up as the focus of managing the challenge rather than strict restrictions and enforcement alone by the government, and complete ignorant attitude of the local community. Most Hanjis feel they have been alienated from development plan preparation for conservation of the Dal Lake, which has in turn led them to over-exploit the lake’s resources as the sense of attachment and reliance is not there.