Srinagar, Feb 2: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) to assess the water quality of Manasbal Lake in Ganderbal district and identify sources of pollution. Both agencies have been asked to submit a status and action report at least one week before the next hearing on April 22, 2026.

The order came during a hearing on January 30, 2026, on a petition filed by environmental activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who alleged that untreated sewage and solid waste from 14 villages are entering the lake through the Lar Canal, severely polluting the wetland. The lake serves as a drinking water source for nearly 30,000 residents in Ganderbal and Bandipora districts.
The Tribunal issued notices to multiple authorities, including the UT government, Chief Secretary, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, WMDA, and Block Development Officers responsible for rural sanitation, directing them to file affidavits and updates.
The petition highlighted studies showing nutrient enrichment and macrophyte overgrowth in the lake, indicating eutrophication caused by domestic sewage, detergents, and solid waste. A long-pending sewage treatment plant project has yet to become fully operational, leading to continued inflow of untreated waste.
Raja Muzaffar Bhat said the pollution threatens both the environment and public health, urging immediate conservation and restoration measures.