Onlykashmir.in News Desk
A traditional spring at Taploo Mohalla in Anchar, Soura, Srinagar, was taken up for restoration on Saturday by the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation under Phase 7 of its flagship initiative, Mission Ehsaas. It is the third traditional spring in the area to undergo restoration. The drive aims to preserve Kashmir’s traditional water sources, safeguard its ecological heritage and encourage community participation in conservation.
The spring had fallen into a dilapidated condition. It is now being restored through the collective efforts of NLCO volunteers, civil society representatives and local stakeholders. The initiative seeks to reclaim the water source and promote community ownership so that its cleanliness, functionality and long-term maintenance are assured.
The inauguration was led by NLCO Chairman Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo in the presence of Prof. Sajad Gangoo of SKUAST, Burhan Misgar, President of the TAFI J&K Chapter, and Er. Abdul Rashid of the University of Kashmir, along with civil society members, volunteers and residents. Wangnoo urged the community to take collective responsibility for protecting the spring. “Every spring restored is a step towards reviving Kashmir’s water heritage. Our collective responsibility is to protect, preserve and pass on these precious natural resources to future generations,” he said.
Prof. Gangoo highlighted the historical and ecological importance of Anchar Lake and recalled its role in sustaining local communities and Kashmir’s traditional water systems. He expressed concern over its deteriorating condition, saying years of ecological degradation underline the need for a comprehensive, science-based and sustained restoration plan, with coordinated action by the authorities and local communities.
Residents welcomed the restoration. They recalled that the spring had once been a vital source of drinking water and daily household use, serving generations of families before it fell into neglect. “This spring was once the lifeline of our neighbourhood,” they said, expressing hope that its revival would keep an important part of Anchar’s heritage alive.
NLCO thanked volunteers, civil society members and residents, and acknowledged the cooperation of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and the role of the media in raising awareness. While continuing its on-ground work, it reiterated its demand for the comprehensive restoration of Anchar Lake and for placing it under a competent and accountable authority for sustained management.
The organisation said the lake’s revival is vital for Kashmir’s interconnected network of lakes, wetlands and traditional navigation routes, and requires clear institutional responsibility, adequate resources and long-term planning. It added that a revived Anchar could also create opportunities for responsible tourism and bring the lake back onto Kashmir’s tourism map. NLCO said grassroots efforts need stronger institutional intervention to complement them, and that the restoration of springs must go hand in hand with a wider strategy to safeguard fragile aquatic ecosystems.
