Dal Lake in Srinagar is also known as the “Jewel in the crown of Kashmir”. The lake is a hotspot for tourists, who come to enjoy a break on one of the lake’s famous houseboats. It's also home to 50,000 people, who live in and around it. Located at around 1500 meters' altitude, between the Zabarwan Mountains and the city of Srinagar, the waterbody is famous for its beauty. But in recent years, increasing pollution and plastic waste, as well as wastewater coming in from neighboring Srinagar have taken their toll on the lake, threatening biodiversity, local ecosystems and the livelihoods of many who live there.
Local people, including farmers and scientists, have had enough. They are galvanizing, and investing time and energy into turning things around. As activist Ghulam Rasool says: “If anything happens to this waterway, we will lose everything.” Communities and government are taking a many-pronged approach involving the building of drainage networks, removing siltation, installing sewage treatment plants and working with the lake’s ecology to restore its ecosystem.