Dal Lake, located in the stunning Kashmir valley, has been recognised for a long time as one of India’s most enchanting tourist spots. This serene sanctuary calls out to both domestic and international visitors, offering respite from the sweltering summer heat while showcasing the tranquil beauty of the area. However, recent developments have raised concerns about pollution and environmental impact, mainly pointing fingers at the cherished houseboats that lie anchored neatly in the lake.Despite their popularity, the houseboats have not been without controversy. Environmental activists and many researchers argue that these floating resorts are the main source of the lake’s pollution. In response to PILs that expressed concern for the lake’s well-being, the high court stepped in and imposed restrictions, capping the number of houseboats at 700-900 in Dal and Nigeen lakes and also advised shifting the excess houseboats to other water bodies in order to reduce pressure on the Dal. No new licenses were to be issued, and major repair work was also prohibited.However, the houseboat owners themselves reveal a tale of hardships and livelihoods under threat. The owners claim that the government is unfairly targeting their businesses since the actual sources of pollution lie in the catchment area compounded by poor governance and management by the lake authorities. A comprehensive study conducted by this author in 2018 uncovered multiple enterprises operating on the lake, including tourism (houseboats and shikaras), floating vegetable gardens, and fisheries. Being a common-use resource, conflicts inevitably arise while determining the optimal budgetary allocation and management priorities among competing stakeholders. Dal Lake has always been entangled in such conflicts, leading to an abysmally depressing situation in terms of sustainability.Houseboats on Dal Lake. Photo: Author providedWe have several instances of great lakes across the world like Lake Erie in North America, Lake Victoria in East Africa (the largest lake of Africa), Taihu Lake of Eastern China and Constance Lake in Central Europe that have suffered from mismanagement of resources and have been revived successfully by implementing proper management strategies, international cooperation and community involvement. In the absence of the development and implementation of concerted co-management strategies, the influence of entrenched stakeholders with vested interests tend to overshadow the long-term welfare of the lake. Various government departments are responsible for the civic maintenance of Dal Lake, such as the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), J&K Tourism Department, revenue, electrical, agriculture, and the like. These departments allegedly engage in a blame game, avoiding responsibility for the abysmal state of the Dal.Dal Lake needs to be operated at a compromised equilibrium, prioritising sustainability and the lake’s health, while allowing economic enterprises to flourish. The current level of pollution and hyper-eutrophication in Dal Lake has led many experts to declare it unsuitable for native fish species, such as snow trouts, which have been showing a constant decline in catches over the last 2-3 decades. Many exotic hardy species, some introduced inadvertently, others by chance are proliferating in the polluted Dal waters, leading to an inevitable shift in consumer preferences due to the unavailability of indigenous species. However, reducing water pollution levels would pave the way for the native species to make a comeback. Contrary to popular belief, the declining catches of native species in the lake cannot be solely attributed to pollution levels, with houseboats often unfairly blamed as the primary source. However, the true reality unveils a different story.Each houseboat generated net returns of Rs 1.47 million, totalling Rs 1,109 million for the 750 houseboats in the Dal Lake. These houseboats employ 3,525 people annually of which 3,000 were hired labour and 525 were accounted by family labour component. Therefore, the income generated by houseboats for hired labor worked out to be Rs 250 million. The pollution generated by total population living on the lake including the number of fisher families, vegetable farmers, houseboat inhabitants and tourists in houseboats has been estimated to be around 33.82 million litres of sewage which is very less compared to external untreated sewage flowing inside the lake (6587 million litres per year).The houseboats if taken separately contribute only 6.3 million litres of sewage which is less than 0.1 % of the total untreated sewage entering the lake system from the catchment.Even if houseboats operated at full capacity year-round, the increase in pollution load would be marginal (1.2 million litres), while doubling the revenue generated (Rs 2,200 million). This finding puts paid to the notion that houseboats bear sole responsibility for the lake’s deteriorating water quality. Efforts should focus on restructuring the lopsided investments made in de-weeding and dredging the lake. The government budget (2017-18) for sewage treatment was Rs 3.4 million. Outlays for dredging to remove excess silt from the lake was Rs 5 million and for de-weeding to remove excessive growth of weeds was Rs 2.5 million. There is a need to increase the investment in sewage treatment (making all STP units functional) while keeping other abatement measures unchanged, which could optimise pollution control in the lake.Houseboats on Dal Lake. Photo: Author providedThe challenges faced by Dal Lake are a result of its inherent nature of being a common-use resource and the anthropogenic pressures that come with it. The rivalry in consumption and issues of excludability together in tandem create conflicts. Certain strategies for managing inter-stakeholder conflicts and sustainability issues include the consideration that while houseboats contribute significantly to the lake’s economic welfare, they occupy a considerable area that could otherwise be used for fishing. Thus, it is suggested that there should be a benefit transfer scheme mandated by government authorities under which a certain fixed portion of their profits or benefits can be directly transferred to local fishermen who are socio-economically weaker and more vulnerable than other stakeholders of the lake. Additionally, solid waste and non-biodegradable waste from houseboats should be collected daily by the houseboat operators and deposited in a designated place where the waste should be assessed by weight and volume which may be incentivised by the government with green credits which could be encased at the end of the year. This will help in preventing its direct disposal into the water. License fees for houseboats could also be reviewed periodically. This must be contingent upon implementing eco-friendly practices, responsible waste management and promoting environmentally conscious tourism. To encourage best practices, healthy competition among houseboats based on various parameters could be fostered, with awards and incentives given to top performers.Furthermore, untreated sewage inflow from the catchment needs to be regulated and treated properly. Although there are already five STPs installed along the catchment of the lake, only three are functional. Therefore, there is a need to install more STPs and divert investments toward this cause. It is important to ensure that the newly installed STPs are properly designed, constructed and operated to meet the required standards for sewage treatment. Regular maintenance and monitoring should also be carried out to ensure their long-term functionality. In addition, it is essential to implement measures aimed at reducing the volume of untreated sewage entering the lake. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has ensured the availability of public toilets which must be put to best use and its use promoted among the local people, driving home the benefits of a clean environment. Environmental activists and approved NGOs can engage in organising cleanup drives, and community education and advocate for pushing the agenda of conserving and delivering a lovelier Dal to the public.Data and values from Qureshi (2018) PhD Thesis on “The Amplified Economics of an Intrinsic Common Use Resource: The Dal Lake” available in Krishikosh.Neha Wajahat Qureshi is a scientist at ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai.