Bilal Bhat
Acting within hours of a video surfaced by Awami Reporter, Senior Superintendent of Police Tourism Enforcement, Dr. S.D. Chowdhury (JKPS), ordered immediate field action, leading to the deployment of dedicated enforcement teams to Nigeen Lake. The teams, accompanied by local police led by SHO Nigeen Showkat Hussain who carried out intensive searches and inspections across multiple lake stretches, resulting in the seizure of several illegally fitted diesel and petrol motors from shikaras.
The enforcement drive was conducted in coordination with SHO Nigeen, Showkat Hussain, who personally supervised ground-level operations and ensured direct engagement with shikara owners. Police teams not only seized illegal equipment but also carried out extensive counselling sessions with shikara operators, explaining the long-term ecological damage caused by motorised operations in fragile water bodies like Dal and Nigeen.
Officials on the ground highlighted that the use of motors increases water pollution, disturbs aquatic life, accelerates weed growth, and degrades water quality, directly threatening the lake’s biodiversity and livelihood sustainability of traditional shikara operators themselves.
SSP Tourism Enforcement Dr. S.D. Chowdhury made it clear that the action was part of a sustained enforcement strategy and not a one-off response. He warned that repeated inspections have already been carried out in the past and will continue with greater intensity in the coming days. He emphasised that there would be zero tolerance for violations affecting protected water bodies, adding that strict legal action would follow against repeat offenders.
SHO Nigeen Showkat Hussain, while interacting with shikara owners, stressed compliance over confrontation and urged them to adhere to tourism laws meant to preserve Kashmir’s iconic lakes for future generations. He cautioned that while counselling was being prioritised in the initial phase, continued defiance would invite stringent penal action.
Police officials said the coordinated effort reflects a growing focus on environmental policing and sustainable tourism enforcement in Kashmir, particularly in ecologically sensitive zones that attract thousands of tourists annually.
The Tourism Enforcement Police reiterated their commitment to protecting Dal and Nigeen lakes and appealed to the public and stakeholders to cooperate by reporting violations and adhering strictly to prescribed norms.
