Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bans Fuel Jet Skis and Motorized Shikaras on Dal Lake

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ordered a complete ban on fuel-driven jet skis and motorized shikara boats on Srinagar's Dal Lake until further notice. Chief Justice Dr. Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Judge Rajesh Sekhri issued the directive, warning that allowing any motorized vessels to run will be treated as direct contempt of court. The bench instructed the local police, the Tourism Department, and the J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority to strictly enforce the ruling.

Exceptions And Solar Alternative

Boats operated by government officials and authorities for disaster management, maintaining law and order, and handling emergencies are exempt from the ban. The judges suggested that switching to solar-powered electric boats could help protect the environment while keeping tourism alive. Senior counsel B.A. Bashir and advocate Falak Bashir argued during the proceedings that fuel-run watercraft damage the fragile aquatic ecosystem, calling for a protective and well-regulated policy.

Context

Dal Lake faces severe environmental pressures, with official audit reports pointing to a shrinking open water surface area over the past two decades due to various factors. Courts frequently intervene in environmental matters involving water bodies to balance commercial tourism needs with the urgent requirement of pollution control and ecological restoration.