Dal Lake at Risk: A Management-Centered Evaluation of Environmental Laws, Governance Structures, and Stakeholder Strategies for Sustainable Conservation in India
Author(s) : Avantika Raina
Abstract
Dal Lake, a world-renowned water body nestled in the heart of
Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, embodies ecological wealth, cultural
heritage, and economic value. Despite its significance, the lake faces
severe environmental degradation driven by unplanned urbanization,
encroachments, pollution, and governance failures. This qualitative
research critically evaluates the legal and institutional mechanisms for
the lake's conservation through a management lens. It examines
governance structures, policy implementation, inter-agency coordination,
and stakeholder engagement, alongside the role of project planning,
resource management, and performance monitoring in enforcing
environmental laws. Applying management theories—public
management, change management, and stakeholder theory—the paper
assesses how leadership, accountability, and adaptive strategies can
strengthen conservation outcomes. The study underscores the need for
integrated, community-participative, and performance-driven
governance to ensure the ecological sustainability of Dal Lake.
KeyWords : Keywords:- Dal Lake, Wetland Conservation, Environmental Law, Governance, Management Theories, Stakeholder Engagement
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