On World Environment Day 2024, a significant milestone was achieved when the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor inaugurated the restoration of Gilsar and Khushalsar from Sazgaripora. This was not merely an official event but a follow-up to the praise our Hon’ble Prime Minister had extended towards Mission Ehsaas, an initiative spearheaded by the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO) that had already proven its impact in reviving neglected water bodies.
Mission Ehsaas and Its Journey
Mission Ehsaas began as a community-driven initiative that brought together citizens, administration, and institutions with a singular focus: restoring Srinagar’s dying water bodies. What had for decades been considered lost causes were slowly brought back to life. From the desilting of clogged waterways to clearing tonnes of accumulated muck, to mobilising local residents and schools for awareness drives and plantation campaigns, the initiative showcased what collaboration and perseverance could achieve.
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation played a crucial role, extending machinery and manpower at key junctures, while the divisional administration stood firmly behind this public cause. This combination of citizen action and administrative support turned Gilsar and Khushalsar into success stories of hope, where stagnant, fetid waters began to flow again and aquatic life re-emerged.
The Present Reality
After the handing over of the twin lakes to the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), there were expectations of a sustained, science-backed conservation plan. However, more than four months have passed, and little substantial progress is visible on the ground. The deployment of a single watermaster machine, mostly lying defunct, without the critical support of barges and sufficient machinery, has yielded negligible results.
The muck remains piled along the edges, invasive Azolla has resurfaced, and residents now worry that the hard-won gains of the past years are slipping away.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe fear is real that if this pace and approach continue, Gilsar and Khushalsar may face the same fate as Brari Nambal — reduced to a memory of what once was, swallowed by neglect and mismanagement.
The Way Forward: Short-Term and Long-Term Measures
What is needed now is not rhetoric but concrete action. In the short term, LCMA must immediately deploy additional barges, functional dredging machinery, and round-the-clock monitoring teams. Community involvement must not only be encouraged but institutionalised, so that residents remain both custodians and watchdogs of these lakes.
In the long term, these twin urban lakes require a scientific management plan that integrates catchment area treatment, sewage diversion, prevention of encroachments, and regular de-weeding. A task force comprising LCMA, SMC, NLCO, and civil society stakeholders should be constituted to ensure accountability and continuity.
A Call to Protect What Has Been Achieved
Gilsar and Khushalsar are not merely water bodies; they are lifelines, flood buffers, and ecological assets of Srinagar. The inauguration of 2024 was a moment of promise — a recognition that these lakes could be saved. The concern shared by the Hon’ble LG, coupled with the encouragement from the Hon’ble PM, cannot be allowed to fade into token symbolism.
If neglected, we risk erasing years of voluntary work and administrative support that went into Mission Ehsaas. But if acted upon with urgency and vision, we can still prevent a repeat of Brari Nambal and instead create a model of urban lake restoration for the entire country.
The time to choose is now — between revival and ruin.
— Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo
Chairman, Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation (NLCO)