It's been decades since the closure of movie theatres in the Kashmir valley and now, the Jammu and Kashmir government has started a first-of-its-kind open air theatre in the middle of Dal lake.Here is a report.

Jammu and Kashmir govt starts first-of-its-kind open air theatre in Dal lake

It's been decades since the closure of movie theatres in the Kashmir Valley and now, the Jammu and Kashmir government has started the first of its kind, an open-air theatre in the middle of Dal Lake. On the inauguration day, the famous Bollywood film 'Kashmir Ki Kali' was played on the big screen. 'Kashmir ki Kali' was shot in Kashmir in 1964.&nbsp;

The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department in collaboration with Smart City Srinagar and Mission Youth J&amp;K have started this theatre.&nbsp;

"We started an open theatre in the middle of Dal Lake. People can see movies while sitting in shikaras. It's a novel idea. And there would be a movie about houseboats running in this theatre to give tourists an insight. We will do a laser show around it too. This will give a lot of confidence to the houseboat community and help in growing tourism in the Kashmir Valley," said Director Tourism, G N Itoo.&nbsp;

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The government also inaugurated a laser show at Dal Lake. A gallery displaying old testimonials, periodicals and photographs depicting old pictures of houseboats in river Jhelum and Dal Lake, Kashmiri Culture and traditional cuisine were also put up for the locals and tourists. A fleet of shikaras and houseboats were kept available for tourists to join the celebrations and witness laser shows and films.&nbsp;

"I am feeling great. It's India's first floating cinema and It's a beautiful experience. We are enjoying it a lot. Srinagar is a must-visit place to come. We should recommend this to everyone and no one should be afraid to come here," said Aakshama, a tourist.&nbsp;

On the occasion, a shikara rally with shining lights was organised and it passed through Nehru Park to Kabootar Khana with local artists singing and dancing Kashmiri songs.&nbsp;

It's been decades since the closure of movie theatres in the Kashmir Valley and now, the Jammu and Kashmir government has started the first of its kind, an open-air theatre in the middle of Dal Lake.

It's been decades since the closure of movie theatres in the Kashmir Valley and now, the Jammu and Kashmir government has started the first of its kind, an open-air theatre in the middle of Dal Lake. On the inauguration day, the famous Bollywood film 'Kashmir Ki Kali' was played on the big screen. 'Kashmir ki Kali' was shot in Kashmir in 1964. The Jammu and Kashmir Tourism department in collaboration with Smart City Srinagar and Mission Youth J&K have started this theatre. "We started an open theatre in the middle of Dal Lake. People can see movies while sitting in shikaras. It's a novel idea. And there would be a movie about houseboats running in this theatre to give tourists an insight. We will do a laser show around it too. This will give a lot of confidence to the houseboat community and help in growing tourism in the Kashmir Valley," said Director Tourism, G N Itoo. ALSO READ | Will act inside Pakistan against terrorists if needed, Indian defence minister warns The government also inaugurated a laser show at Dal Lake. A gallery displaying old testimonials, periodicals and photographs depicting old pictures of houseboats in river Jhelum and Dal Lake, Kashmiri Culture and traditional cuisine were also put up for the locals and tourists. A fleet of shikaras and houseboats were kept available for tourists to join the celebrations and witness laser shows and films. "I am feeling great. It's India's first floating cinema and It's a beautiful experience. We are enjoying it a lot. Srinagar is a must-visit place to come. We should recommend this to everyone and no one should be afraid to come here," said Aakshama, a tourist. On the occasion, a shikara rally with shining lights was organised and it passed through Nehru Park to Kabootar Khana with local artists singing and dancing Kashmiri songs.

India: Kashmir gets its first floating cinema, famous Bollywood film 'Kashmir Ki Kali' played on big screen

After the famed floating gardens and floating post office, Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar gets its first floating ATM.

The cash dispensing machine has been installed for the convenience of people living near the lake as well as for the tourists staying in the houseboats. Many local business owners&nbsp;believe that it can become the new tourist attraction as it is the first such floating ATM in the Union Territory.&nbsp;

"SBI opened an ATM on a houseboat at Dal Lake, Srinagar, for the convenience of locals &amp; tourists. The floating ATM in the popular Dal Lake fulfils a long-standing need &amp; will be an added attraction to the charm of Srinagar," the bank tweeted.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jammu-kashmir-health-infrastructure-upgraded-in-rural-areas-world-bank-helps-401784">Jammu &amp; Kashmir: Health infrastructure upgraded in rural areas, World Bank helps</a>

Many houseboat owners were relieved to have the ATM nearby as they had to travel all the way to the main city, which is about 8.8 kilometres from Dal Lake, for withdrawing money. They also said that it would boost their business as the tourists can now stay at the houseboats without having to worry about travelling long distances&nbsp;to get cash.

''We are thankful to the State Bank of India. This is the first floating ATM in Jammu Kashmir. This will benefit the locals as well as the tourists coming to the valley. It could become a tourist attraction as it's a unique concept. The tourists who are living in different houseboats are also appreciating the step,'' Saqib Ibrahim, owner of a houseboat in Dal Lake, said.&nbsp;

Several tourists also appreciated the bank’s gesture, saying that they can now stay at the houseboats without worrying about the cash crunch.

A tourist from Kerala, Nabeel Ahmad, said, “'We have a floating ATM in Kerala. I think it's a very good move by the bank. Dal Lake has floating markets and now an ATM too. It will immensely contribute to boosting the business of locals. The guests who stay in these houseboats can now take a shikhara and withdraw the money. It's a wonderful experience.”

After the famed floating gardens and floating post office, Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar gets its first floating ATM. The cash dispensing machine has been installed for the convenience of people living near the lake as well as for the tourists staying in the houseboats.

After the famed floating gardens and floating post office, Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar gets its first floating ATM. The cash dispensing machine has been installed for the convenience of people living near the lake as well as for the tourists staying in the houseboats. Many local business owners believe that it can become the new tourist attraction as it is the first such floating ATM in the Union Territory. "SBI opened an ATM on a houseboat at Dal Lake, Srinagar, for the convenience of locals & tourists. The floating ATM in the popular Dal Lake fulfils a long-standing need & will be an added attraction to the charm of Srinagar," the bank tweeted. Also read | Jammu & Kashmir: Health infrastructure upgraded in rural areas, World Bank helps Many houseboat owners were relieved to have the ATM nearby as they had to travel all the way to the main city, which is about 8.8 kilometres from Dal Lake, for withdrawing money. They also said that it would boost their business as the tourists can now stay at the houseboats without having to worry about travelling long distances to get cash. ''We are thankful to the State Bank of India. This is the first floating ATM in Jammu Kashmir. This will benefit the locals as well as the tourists coming to the valley. It could become a tourist attraction as it's a unique concept. The tourists who are living in different houseboats are also appreciating the step,'' Saqib Ibrahim, owner of a houseboat in Dal Lake, said. Several tourists also appreciated the bank’s gesture, saying that they can now stay at the houseboats without worrying about the cash crunch. A tourist from Kerala, Nabeel Ahmad, said, “'We have a floating ATM in Kerala. I think it's a very good move by the bank. Dal Lake has floating markets and now an ATM too. It will immensely contribute to boosting the business of locals. The guests who stay in these houseboats can now take a shikhara and withdraw the money. It's a wonderful experience.”

Jammu and Kashmir’s Dal Lake gets its first floating ATM

Kashmir's famed dal lake is choking. Not just due to pollution, but also because of weeds and lily pads. A collective effort is needed to preserve the lake, once hailed as the crown jewel of Kashmir. Wion's Johan castell travels to Srinagar to find out more.

Kashmir Connect: Removing water lilies from Dal lake

When we talk about Kashmir's iconic dal lake- what comes to your mind? Possibly, a Shikara boat ride or the houseboats. But the valley's top tourist attraction is also known for its floating vegetable market. Wion's correspondent Johan Castell visited this unique market.

Kashmir Connect: Dal Lake's floating wonders

This is a story of an inspiring father-daughter duo from Kashmir. 8-year-old eco-warrior Jannat is fighting hard to save the Dal lake, while her father, Tariq Ahmad, runs an ambulance Shikara- a Kashmiri boat, which he uses to ferry COVID patients living on the lake. Tariq started this initiative after he contracted the virus last year. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has also lauded his initiative.

Kashmir Connect: A tale of Kashmir's 'Jannat'

The eight-year-old child, Jannat Tariq, is striving hard to keep the Dal lake clean. This kid was inspired by her father in conserving the lake when she was only 5. PM Modi has also lauded her for her efforts.

8-year-old girl's mission to save the Dal Lake

Floating gardens, islands, and houseboats are all things we've heard of, but Kashmir's famous Dal Lake has a floating post office. It's the only floating post office in the whole world.

A Floating post-office at Srinagar's famous Dal Lake

Floating gardens, islands, and houseboats are all things we've heard of, but Kashmir's famous Dal Lake has a floating post office. It's the only floating post office in the whole world.&nbsp;

This two-centuries-old floating post office was started in the British era and continues to deliver letters and couriers to the people living on the lake. The delivery of the post is done by a postman while travelling in a shikara.

All the services of the post office are available at this floating post office on Dal Lake while being afloat. They use a special seal of a shikara along with a boatman to put it on the envelope.&nbsp;

"This is a 200-year-old post office that served from before the Maharaja's reign to the British era. It was finally called a floating post office. There is no change in the number of posts sent around. We don't have time to talk when there is a tourist influx. Thousands of people visit this post office to take pictures. They can buy special covers, postcards and stamps from here. The letter is delivered to the houseboat by the postman, who hires a Shikara. This has been going on for years and is still going on," according to Farooq Ahmad, the Post Master.

 
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Mohd Ismail worked as a postman for India Post for many years. He has been delivering letters every day to people living on the lake. It is time-consuming to take a shikara and go to different houseboats, but the charm of doing so is what he likes the most.&nbsp;

"I have been delivering letters in Dal Lake for ten years. It's so good for my health to breathe fresh air on the lake. I deliver around 100-150 letters a day. There is also a CRPF camp within the lake, which receives a lot of letters that I deliver. It takes me hours to deliver these letters. "I start at 11 am and finish at 5:30 pm," Mohd Ismail explained.

Locals who live on or near the lake claim that the internet and social media have had a significant impact on letter writing and sending.But some people miss it as it used to be emotional to receive or send a letter in earlier times.&nbsp;

"This post office has been there for a long time. It is so easy for houseboat owners to receive and send letters. People have shifted to email and social networks for now and the art of letter writing has gone down. It was a wonderful feeling to receive or send a letter, and it was even more wonderful to open a letter and read it.I miss it all, said Noor Mohammad, the owner of a houseboat. 
 
The floating post office has a collection of old stamps and used to have a small museum in one of the rooms, which was damaged in the 2014 floods.

Floating gardens, islands, and houseboats are all things we've heard of, but Kashmir's famous Dal Lake has a floating post office. It's the only floating post office in the whole world. This two-centuries-old floating post office was started in the British era and continues to deliver letters and couriers to the people living on the lake. The delivery of the post is done by a postman while travelling in a shikara. All the services of the post office are available at this floating post office on Dal Lake while being afloat. They use a special seal of a shikara along with a boatman to put it on the envelope. "This is a 200-year-old post office that served from before the Maharaja's reign to the British era. It was finally called a floating post office. There is no change in the number of posts sent around. We don't have time to talk when there is a tourist influx. Thousands of people visit this post office to take pictures. They can buy special covers, postcards and stamps from here. The letter is delivered to the houseboat by the postman, who hires a Shikara. This has been going on for years and is still going on," according to Farooq Ahmad, the Post Master. Mohd Ismail worked as a postman for India Post for many years. He has been delivering letters every day to people living on the lake. It is time-consuming to take a shikara and go to different houseboats, but the charm of doing so is what he likes the most. "I have been delivering letters in Dal Lake for ten years. It's so good for my health to breathe fresh air on the lake. I deliver around 100-150 letters a day. There is also a CRPF camp within the lake, which receives a lot of letters that I deliver. It takes me hours to deliver these letters. "I start at 11 am and finish at 5:30 pm," Mohd Ismail explained. Locals who live on or near the lake claim that the internet and social media have had a significant impact on letter writing and sending.But some people miss it as it used to be emotional to receive or send a letter in earlier times. "This post office has been there for a long time. It is so easy for houseboat owners to receive and send letters. People have shifted to email and social networks for now and the art of letter writing has gone down. It was a wonderful feeling to receive or send a letter, and it was even more wonderful to open a letter and read it.I miss it all, said Noor Mohammad, the owner of a houseboat. The floating post office has a collection of old stamps and used to have a small museum in one of the rooms, which was damaged in the 2014 floods.

World's only floating post office in Kashmir: Delivering letters since 200 years

Kashmir is known as the crown of India and Dal Lake is said to be its jewel. However, in the past few years, the lake has been shrinking because of encroachments. The Lakes and Waterways Development Authority(LAWDA) has been trying its best to save the lake.

In the last three months, LAWDA has done more than 170 demolitions of illegal structures around the lake. People have been taking advantage of the lockdown and many such encroachments are being reported.

Now, to stop these illegal encroachments, the LAWDA has started installing CCTV cameras all around the lake.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-govt-threatens-hindu-advocacy-body-for-exposing-pakistan-armys-genocide-in-bangladesh-387944">Imran govt threatens Hindu body for exposing Pak’s genocide in Bangladesh</a>

''We have started the process of placing CCTV cameras around Dal Lake. Five cameras have been placed while 15 more are being placed at different locations. We will try to cover the whole lake in a phased manner. The camera's will be of high quality so that number plate recognition is also possible, and if people are seen carrying the construction material, we would get to know through the footage.'' says Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat, VC LAWDA.

The authorities say reporting of events is a bit slow during the lockdown and some people are taking advantage of lockdown by constructing these illegal structures. Thousands of FIRs have also been registered against people for these encroachments. Many vehicles carrying construction material were also seized.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-in-india-one-nurse-delivers-100-babies-of-patients-while-another-vaccinates-6000-people-387770" hreflang="en">Covid in India: One nurse delivers 100 babies of patients while another vaccinates 6,000 people</a>

''In 2020, LAWDA had done more than 463 demolitions around the lake and in the last five years, we have registered 1000 FIRs against people who encroached on the lake and 124 vehicles were seized too,'' Bhat said.

Pollution is one more problem that the LAWDA is facing. While they are able to take out the plastic waste from people living on the lake, they have been&nbsp;time and again requesting people to be responsible and not throw plastic waste into the lake.

''There is a lot of sewage waste that comes out of the lake. Around 1 to 1.5 quintals of plastic is taken out on a daily basis from the people who live on the lake. We are daily taking out plastic waste which people throw while enjoying the beauty of the lake, although throwing waste into the lake has reduced to a lot of extent,'' he reported.

LAWDA has also established control rooms to monitor and supervise the de-weeding of the lake too.

Kashmir is known as the crown of India and Dal Lake is said to be its jewel. However, in the past few years, the lake has been shrinking because of encroachments.

Kashmir is known as the crown of India and Dal Lake is said to be its jewel. However, in the past few years, the lake has been shrinking because of encroachments. The Lakes and Waterways Development Authority(LAWDA) has been trying its best to save the lake. In the last three months, LAWDA has done more than 170 demolitions of illegal structures around the lake. People have been taking advantage of the lockdown and many such encroachments are being reported. Now, to stop these illegal encroachments, the LAWDA has started installing CCTV cameras all around the lake. Also read | Imran govt threatens Hindu body for exposing Pak’s genocide in Bangladesh ''We have started the process of placing CCTV cameras around Dal Lake. Five cameras have been placed while 15 more are being placed at different locations. We will try to cover the whole lake in a phased manner. The camera's will be of high quality so that number plate recognition is also possible, and if people are seen carrying the construction material, we would get to know through the footage.'' says Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat, VC LAWDA. The authorities say reporting of events is a bit slow during the lockdown and some people are taking advantage of lockdown by constructing these illegal structures. Thousands of FIRs have also been registered against people for these encroachments. Many vehicles carrying construction material were also seized. Also read | Covid in India: One nurse delivers 100 babies of patients while another vaccinates 6,000 people ''In 2020, LAWDA had done more than 463 demolitions around the lake and in the last five years, we have registered 1000 FIRs against people who encroached on the lake and 124 vehicles were seized too,'' Bhat said. Pollution is one more problem that the LAWDA is facing. While they are able to take out the plastic waste from people living on the lake, they have been time and again requesting people to be responsible and not throw plastic waste into the lake. ''There is a lot of sewage waste that comes out of the lake. Around 1 to 1.5 quintals of plastic is taken out on a daily basis from the people who live on the lake. We are daily taking out plastic waste which people throw while enjoying the beauty of the lake, although throwing waste into the lake has reduced to a lot of extent,'' he reported. LAWDA has also established control rooms to monitor and supervise the de-weeding of the lake too.

India: 170 illegal structures demolished, CCTV camera installed to save Dal Lake

Volunteers from across Jammu & Kashmir descended on Dal Lake to remove the layer of Lily weeds that threaten the lake's ecological balance.

South Asia Diary: Campaign to clean Kashmir's Dal Lake

A boatmen named Tarik Ahmed faced social stigma after testing positive for COVID-19 as nobody came forward to his rescue. He came up with an idea of launching a water ambulance in Dal Lake for people in need.

A boatmen named Tarik Ahmed built Kashmir's first floating ambulance

Pahalgam in south Kashmir was the coldest place in the valley at -8.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal.

Kashmir reels under sub-zero temperatures

Dal lake covered in snow as cold wave hits J&K

A thick layer of ice was seen on most roads in Srinagar and elsewhere in the valley, making it difficult for people to drive.

Kashmir freezes as minimum temperature dips to minus 8.3 degrees celsius

Residents of India's Kashmir valley continue to face intense cold conditions. Srinagar's famous Dal Lake has frozen over. A major portion of Srinagar's Rananda Lake froze after temperatures fell to record numbers in the region.

India: Kashmir's Srinagar freezes at -8.3 degree Celsius

The lakes of Kashmir offer immense potential for water sports. Kashmir's kayaking and canoeing star Bilquis Mir trained on these water bodies, and she is now the director of the Water Sports Centre on Dal Lake. She overcame numerous hardships to become the first woman from the Valley to coach the Indian national team. Our correspondent Johan Castell travelled to Srinagar to meet India's water queen. Watch his report on Kashmir Connect, a special series on WION.

Kashmir Connect: Meet India's kayaking star on Dal Lake

Water lilies growing on ponds and lakes are beautiful to look at, and they also aid its ecosystem. but when they grow too thickly over the water's surface, the large pads interfere with oxygen exchange, which leads to algae blooms, that in turn causes stagnation. This is exactly what's happening in Kashmir's Dal lake. A part of the scenic lake is choking due to weeds and lilly pads. WION's correspondent Johan Castell travels to Srinagar to find out more.

When we talk about floating markets, we always think about the ones in countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. But do you know that India too has some prominent floating markets, including one in Srinagar? The floating vegetable market on the Dal came into existence as a means of sustenance for communities that were living on or near the famous lake. WION's correspondent Johan Castell visited the scenic market. What's more, he even managed to sell some fresh vegetables. Watch this story for more.

An 11-year-old Kashmiri kickboxing champion. An 8-year-old girl trying to save the Dal Lake. A woman spreading menstrual hygiene awareness in the Valley. Watch the inspiring stories of these young achievers, this week on Kashmir Connect.

Kashmir connect: A WION special series

One of the most endearing sights of Kashmir that draw tourists to this valley are the houseboats on the Dal and Nagin lakes.

The story of houseboats in Kashmir | One-of-a-kind living experience | Dal Lake

The famous houseboat industry in Kashmir valley is struggling to stay afloat, courtesy COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;However, is hopeful of brighter days. For almost a&nbsp;year now, most of them haven't earned anything but are welcoming tourists.

In the 19th century when the valley was bustling with foreign tourists, mainly English, inhabitants living in boats started building floating houses which were later called houseboats. Since then, these houseboats have become a jewel of Srinagar and framed Dal lake.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-kashmiri-girl-makes-immunity-boosting-bakery-ahead-of-eid-festival-315730">Also read|&nbsp;COVID-19: Kashmiri girl makes immunity boosting bakery ahead of Eid festival</a>

Several of them are named after countries such as New Zeland, Chicago, Paris, while others are named in honor of their early and favorite guests. Many European travelers would stay in these houseboats for months, usually on their longish holidays. &nbsp;

<img alt="Houseboat" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ac3a244d-78ac-4b87-adda-b09bd6551109" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Houseboat%20%281%29.jpg" />

Tariq Ahmad is the owner of a houseboat called 'Hollywood'. He has been into houseboat business from his youth but has had a difficult time in managing daily life for a year now. He blames visitation advisories and situation in the valley for the loss, but he hopes the future will be brighter.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-police-carries-out-awareness-rallies-on-covid-19-lockdown-reimposed-315454">Also read|&nbsp;J&amp;K police carries out awareness rallies on COVID-19; lockdown reimposed</a>

“During the worst of times, we would have tourists here. Police have said that Srinagar city is militancy free, but the question is why aren't the tourists coming? Coronavirus has become part of our life. We welcome tourists, everyone will have to follow guidelines,” said Tariq.&nbsp;

However,&nbsp;Tariq hasn't given up. He has kept his houseboat ready to welcome tourists. Due to the high maintenance cost, one of his two houseboats is shut. Usually, he would have high occupancy in July.

Houseboat owners now want some relief from the government as the sector generates a lot of local employment.&nbsp;

These houseboats are made from cedar pine wood; the carved interiors would steal your heart with a mesmerizing view of the Himalayan mountain range and world-famous Dal lake. These incredibly beautiful houseboats along the Dal lake are now getting ready to witness the hustle and bustle again.&nbsp;

The famous houseboat industry in Kashmir valley is struggling to stay afloat, courtesy COVID-19 pandemic. However, is hopeful of brighter days. For almost a year now, most of them haven't earned anything but are welcoming tourists.

The famous houseboat industry in Kashmir valley is struggling to stay afloat, courtesy COVID-19 pandemic. However, is hopeful of brighter days. For almost a year now, most of them haven't earned anything but are welcoming tourists. In the 19th century when the valley was bustling with foreign tourists, mainly English, inhabitants living in boats started building floating houses which were later called houseboats. Since then, these houseboats have become a jewel of Srinagar and framed Dal lake. Also read| COVID-19: Kashmiri girl makes immunity boosting bakery ahead of Eid festival Several of them are named after countries such as New Zeland, Chicago, Paris, while others are named in honor of their early and favorite guests. Many European travelers would stay in these houseboats for months, usually on their longish holidays. Tariq Ahmad is the owner of a houseboat called 'Hollywood'. He has been into houseboat business from his youth but has had a difficult time in managing daily life for a year now. He blames visitation advisories and situation in the valley for the loss, but he hopes the future will be brighter. Also read| J&K police carries out awareness rallies on COVID-19; lockdown reimposed “During the worst of times, we would have tourists here. Police have said that Srinagar city is militancy free, but the question is why aren't the tourists coming? Coronavirus has become part of our life. We welcome tourists, everyone will have to follow guidelines,” said Tariq. However, Tariq hasn't given up. He has kept his houseboat ready to welcome tourists. Due to the high maintenance cost, one of his two houseboats is shut. Usually, he would have high occupancy in July. Houseboat owners now want some relief from the government as the sector generates a lot of local employment. These houseboats are made from cedar pine wood; the carved interiors would steal your heart with a mesmerizing view of the Himalayan mountain range and world-famous Dal lake. These incredibly beautiful houseboats along the Dal lake are now getting ready to witness the hustle and bustle again.

Houseboat, a floating marvel of Kashmir valley faces trouble

A seven-year-old girl has been cleaning the world famous Dal lake for two years -- an effort that has won her applause from many. Her latest achievement is that her name has now been published in a textbook of a Hyderabad school.

Jannat was born and raised in Srinagar. Her parents say she questioned littering of waste into the lake since she was a small kid.

In the past, the third grade student has won applause from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her efforts to clean the lake. With time, she has become the face of cleaning the most famous water body of Kashmir.&nbsp;

“I want to keep this lake clean so that more people come here,” Jannat says.&nbsp;

Throughout the year, millions of tourists visit the picturesque lake to enjoy the boat ride and stay in the houseboats. But for many years, the lake has been facing the problem of pollution.&nbsp;

In 1997, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests launched the ‘Save Dal’ project at an estimated Rs 500 crore. Since then, several projects worth millions have been launched but the result has been short lived.

“I have been also campaigning to save this lake,” Tariq Ahmad, father of Jannat, says.&nbsp;

He now hopes that his daughter inspires more young people to help curb the pollution of the Dal lake.

A seven-year-old girl has been cleaning the world famous Dal lake for two years -- an effort that has won her applause from many. Her latest achievement is that her name has now been published in a textbook of a Hyderabad school.

A seven-year-old girl has been cleaning the world famous Dal lake for two years -- an effort that has won her applause from many. Her latest achievement is that her name has now been published in a textbook of a Hyderabad school. Jannat was born and raised in Srinagar. Her parents say she questioned littering of waste into the lake since she was a small kid. In the past, the third grade student has won applause from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her efforts to clean the lake. With time, she has become the face of cleaning the most famous water body of Kashmir. “I want to keep this lake clean so that more people come here,” Jannat says. Throughout the year, millions of tourists visit the picturesque lake to enjoy the boat ride and stay in the houseboats. But for many years, the lake has been facing the problem of pollution. In 1997, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests launched the ‘Save Dal’ project at an estimated Rs 500 crore. Since then, several projects worth millions have been launched but the result has been short lived. “I have been also campaigning to save this lake,” Tariq Ahmad, father of Jannat, says. He now hopes that his daughter inspires more young people to help curb the pollution of the Dal lake.

Seven-year-old girl, on mission to clean Dal lake, makes it to Hyderabad school textbook

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