The Srinagar Master Plan-2035 has identified a varied number of issues that are responsible for the degradation of the world-famous Dal lake while pitching for revisiting the settlement plan for the Dal dwellers.
The plan has suggested several measures that need to be taken for the conservation of the water body which it said may be permanently lost if timely measures are not taken.

Terms ‘Dole Demb’ project tardy with minor progress
The document underlines that the lake dwellers have historically been part of the lake ecosystems and the lake is also home to a variety of unique animal and plant organisms.

Several issues has been listed under the plan:

• Rampant construction of houses within the lake 
• Shrinkage in the area due to the development of hamlets
• Conversion of water body into floating gardens within the lake
• Sewage, solid waste, agriculture run-off with harmful pesticides that the Dal is facing as major concerns.
• Reduction in freshwater inflow, excessive weed growth and eutrophication, depletion of the lake bed and choking of springs within the lake
• Ecologically unsound irrigation practices
• Resettlement of Dal dwellers, large-scale destruction of forests and erosion in the catchment area.