The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Thursday banned motorised shikaras and fuel-powered jet skis on Dal Lake until further orders to protect its fragile ecosystem. The court has directed authorities to enforce the restrictions immediately and explore solar-powered and electric boats as cleaner alternatives. Motorised boats used for emergencies, law-and-order duties and disaster management are exempt from the ban.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajesh Sekhri issued the directions on Thursday, ordering the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), the Tourism Department and the police to ensure immediate compliance. The court warned that violations would be treated as contempt of court and directed officials to take strict action against unauthorised operations. The order aims to address concerns about the environmental impact of fuel-powered watercraft on Dal Lake, one of Srinagar’s best-known tourist attractions. The court has also called on the authorities to examine cleaner boating technologies that would allow tourism to continue without placing additional pressure on the lake’s ecosystem. The High Court highlighted solar-powered and electric boats as possible alternatives to conventional fuel-powered vessels, stressing the need to balance tourism with environmental protection. The court’s immediate directions prohibit the specified motorised shikaras and fuel-powered jet skis until further orders. Motorised boats used by the administration for emergency services, law-and-order duties and disaster management are exempt. The LCMA, Tourism Department and police have been instructed to ensure that the court’s directions are followed. The warning of contempt proceedings places responsibility on the authorities to prevent unauthorised operations.
