US Harvesters to check Weeds in Dal

In a bid to control the unbridled growth of weeds in the Dal lake and speed up the conservation measures, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has procured two state-of-the-art harvesters from United States.

Officials said the machines have been successfully tested in the Dal and presently foreign experts are imparting training to the staff of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to operate them.

 The harvesters have been procured from the US based Aquarius Systems— the oldest manufacturer of surface water management equipments in the world. The machines known as Aquatic Plant Harvesters are barge mounted machines designed to cut and collect aquatic vegetation including weeds from the water bodies.

 “These machines have been exclusively designed for working in the Dal Lake. We tested the efficacy of the machines in various part of the lake and the results are excellent,” vice-president (Engineering) Aquarius Systems, David D Dauffenbach told Greater Kashmir.

 Having worked in restoration projects in various countries including Brazil, Thailand, Nigeria and Columbia, Dauffenbach believes that glory of Dal can be restored.

 “The condition of Dal is far better than the polluted lakes and water bodies around the lake. Out of scale of 10, I would rate the lake at 6. I believe that sustained conservation measures will pave way for restoration of this beautiful lake. This is the first lake which I have seen where people not only live but earn their livelihood,” he said. 

 On his maiden visit to Kashmir, Dauffenbach says his family has been associated with conservation of Dal decades ago. “My father John Dauffenbach supplied the first harvester for Dal conservation in early eighties. However, for the past three decades, none of our family members could visit Kashmir due to pressing business engagements back home. However, my father used to keep track of Dal through internet. I feel privileged to be associated with Dal conservation,” he said.

 Due to ingress of silt and nutrients from Dal catchments, there has been heavy infestation of weeds in the Dal. The LAWDA’s Executive Engineer, Mechanical, Mushtaq Hussain Jan said the harvesters have effectively cleared the weeds near SKICC. 

 “This part of the lake witnesses massive growth of weeds. With the help of the harvesters, we have managed to cut the weeds near the roots to prevent their speedy growth,” Jan said. He said the foreign experts are imparting training to the LAWDA’s mechanical staff to operate the harvesters. 

 The vice-chairperson of LAWDA, Irfan Yasin said the Aquatic Plant Harvesters can help in the long-term management of weeds in the Dal. “We have to understand that the growth of weeds is a continuous process in the lake. These machines are considered as best for management of weeds and would be beneficial for sustainable management of the lake,” Yasin said.

 Pertinently, in 2007 the High Court had directed the LAWDA to procure latest machines for restoring the lake’s glory. Last year, the LAWDA procured two Water Master Classic III machines and three Truxors from Finland and Switzerland.

 “These machines have increased the pace of our conservation measures and helped us to restore many waterways and channels in Dal,” Yasin added.