Lake Dal in Srinagar, India: Application of the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology for the analysis of conservation options

The report evaluates multiple conservation scenarios for Lake Dal, concluding that a hybrid approach combining grey infrastructure (sewage treatment plants), solar PV power, and natural infrastructure (artificial wetlands) is the most cost-effective way to prevent ecological collapse and maximize economic benefits from tourism and fisheries.

• The 'Business-as-usual' (BAU) scenario leads to ecological degradation, with nitrogen (N) concentrations projected to increase from 0.91 mg N per litre in 2016 to 1.53 mg N per litre by 2060, potentially causing the depletion of local fish stocks within 20 years.
• A hybrid infrastructure approach (Scenario 3.2)—combining sewage network expansion for the periphery, solar PV for power, on-site treatment for lake dwellers and houseboats, and a 500 ha artificial wetland—is the most cost-effective for reducing nitrogen loading and generating economic benefits.
• Installing solar PV to power sewage treatment plants (STPs) and pumping stations prevents accidental untreated sewage discharge during power cuts and reduces social costs of carbon by replacing diesel generators.
• Treating sewage from the lake's periphery is the highest priority among polluter groups because it represents the largest population; conversely, treating houseboat sewage has negligible impact on lake rehabilitation.
• Constructing an artificial wetland in isolation (Scenario 3.1) slightly improves water quality but is insufficient to reduce nitrogen loadings to sustainable levels; it is most effective as a supplement to grey infrastructure.
• The construction of the Western Foreshore Road (Scenario 5.1) is counterproductive, as it increases stormwater runoff and encourages encroachment, leading to a 20.2% increase in nitrogen concentration and a 20% reduction in total revenues compared to the BAU scenario.
• Relocating lake dwellers (Scenario 4.1) reduces nitrogen loadings by 12% but is capital intensive and insufficient on its own to prevent the collapse of fish stocks.
• The report recommends on-site sewage treatment for lake dwellers over relocation due to high costs and the political difficulty of preventing dwellers from returning to the lake.

APA

Bassi, A. M., Perera, O., Wuennenberg, L., & Pallaske, G. (2018). Lake Dal in Srinagar, India: Application of the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology for the analysis of conservation options. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/savi-dal-lake-india.pdf

Chicago

Bassi, Andrea M., Oshani Perera, Laurin Wuennenberg, and Georg Pallaske. Lake Dal in Srinagar, India: Application of the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology for the analysis of conservation options. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2018. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/savi-dal-lake-india.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bassi |first1=Andrea M. |last2=Perera |first2=Oshani |last3=Wuennenberg |first3=Laurin |last4=Pallaske |first4=Georg |title=Lake Dal in Srinagar, India: Application of the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology for the analysis of conservation options |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=December 2018 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/savi-dal-lake-india.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bassi2018lake, author = {Bassi, Andrea M. and Perera, Oshani and Wuennenberg, Laurin and Pallaske, Georg}, title = {{Lake Dal in Srinagar, India: Application of the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology for the analysis of conservation options}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2018}, month = dec, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/savi-dal-lake-india.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }