States » NorthPosted at: Oct 15 2026 7:28PM


To curb pollution, HC bans fuel-powered motorboats, jet skis on Dal Lake till further orders

Srinagar, Oct 15 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has directed authorities to ensure that no fuel-powered motorboat, including motorised shikaras and Jet Skis, operates in Dal Lake until further orders, warning that any violation would amount to contempt of court.
Dal Lake, often described as the postcard of Kashmir tourism, is among the Valley’s most iconic landmarks and a major attraction for visitors from across the country and abroad.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajesh Sekhri, while hearing a petition concerning the licensing of motorboats, also asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to frame a comprehensive policy for regulating motorised boats, with a focus on pollution control and sustainable tourism.
“This court is convinced that in modern times, when lake systems have become a growing concern for civilization, steps are being taken to exclude activities which would cause pollution, and also it would be important that whatever policy is framed is more reasonable while balancing tourism activities, pollution, as well as the uniformity between the players involved,” the Bench observed.
The court, in its October 14 order, directed the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA), Tourism Department and Police to ensure strict compliance with the restrictions.
“In the larger interest of justice,” the Bench directed that “no motorboat, whether it be a shikara motorboat, or Jet Ski which operates by fuel, is operated in the Dal Lake until further orders.”
The court made it clear that any motorised boat allowed to operate or reported to be operating in violation of the order would invite contempt proceedings. It directed the officers concerned to take a strict view by restricting and prohibiting such operations.
Boats used by the administration and other authorities for emergency services, law and order, disaster management and safety have, however, been exempted from the restrictions.
The court also observed that solar-powered and electric boats could provide a possible solution to balance tourism with the preservation of the lake.
“This court is not hesitant to observe that solar boats and electric boats could be a solution for balancing the equities between tourism and the sustenance of lakes,” the order stated.
The Bench directed Senior Additional Advocate General Mohsin S. Qadri to submit a comprehensive policy on motorised boats, to be formulated in consultation with experts, to minimise pollution while maintaining a balance between tourism activities and environmental protection.
The law officer was also asked to explore whether complete motorisation could be substituted with solar-powered electric engines and place the proposal before the court.
The directions came amid concerns over the absence of clear and transparent criteria for granting licences to motorboats operating in Dal Lake.
The petitioners, represented by senior advocate B.A. Bashir and advocate Falak Bashir, submitted that the process of permitting motorboats suffered from a “lack of criteria and a lack of transparency.”
They told the court that licensing powers had earlier rested with the Tourism Department but were now said to be with the Regional Transport Office (RTO), while the criteria for granting permissions remained outside the public domain.
According to the petitioners, the uncertainty had affected those engaged in the motorboat industry and raised broader questions about the fairness and credibility of the licensing authorities.
They also stressed that the criteria must be “uniform, transparent, and environmental,” arguing that motorboats and Jet Skis could damage the lake’s ecosystem and required a regulated approach.
Representing the union Territory, Qadri informed the court that although auctions for motorboats had taken place and some operators had been permitted to ferry tourists, tourism licences had not been reviewed.
He submitted that the authorities were committed to tackling pollution and maintaining the lake’s sanctity while balancing tourism with environmental concerns.
The Bench observed that policies must reasonably balance tourism, pollution control and uniform treatment of stakeholders, emphasising the need for a scientific and expert-oriented approach to regulating motorised watercraft.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 30.
UNI MJR AAB
Tags: #To curb pollution# HC bans fuel-powered motorboats# jet skis on Dal Lake till further orders
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