‘Community participation must for conservation of natural resources’ Div Com Kashmir Div Com takes stock of restoration of Gilsar, Khushalsar lakes

The Div Com said this during an extensive tour of various water bodies including Nigeen, Gilsar,  Khushalsar lakes, Nalla Amir Khan and other water channels in Srinagar to take on spot stock of  restoration and cleaning work.

During the tour, Div Com was accompanied by DC Srinagar, Commissioner SMC, CE I&FC, VC LAWDA,  President NLCO and other concerned.

In a Shikara, tour started from Pokhribal Nigeen lake and went through across various areas including  Dhobi Ghat, Lal Bazaar, Bota Kadal, Amda Kadal through Nallah Amir Khan.

Appreciating work done by LAWDA, SMC, F&IC and NLCO jointly for restoration of these water bodies in the past two months, the Div Com said their work is quite visible. He instructed the concerned shall continue the work in full gear to restore the pristine glory of these water bodies.

He said that Government shall carry out the entire revival work in Gilsar lake and parameter work of  Khushalsar, while NLCO and Community have been doing muck clearance and restoration in interiors of Khushalsar lake. Similarly, restoration work of Pokhribal and Nallah Amir Khan is being carried out by  LAWDA.

Div Com appealed to people for not littering and throwing garbage in water bodies leading to their degradation which poses a great threat to the human existence.

Stressing on community participation, the Div Com directed concerned to aware and sensitize people on the importance of conserving natural resources in Kashmir.

He said that SMC has doubled the garbage collection efficiency in Srinagar City.

In the past two months, the daily waste collection has gone up from 350 tonnes/day to 620 tonnes a day.

The sweeping is done in two shifts morning and evening in the market areas. SMC has been lifting the muck and garbage removed from Dal Lake and other water bodies. The garbage and muck took out from Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes are being lifted on a daily basis using JCBs and heavy vehicles.

Under Smart City Mission, the rejuvenation of Gilsar Lake has also been taken up. The Irrigation & Flood  Control Water Master as well earthmoving machinery has been put in place which is removing the garbage, muck and weed from Khushalsar and Gilsar lakes.

Similarly, LAWDA has also put all men and machinery on the job and intensified its cleaning and restoration work of water bodies in Srinagar. The work done in the past two months has brought tangible results in the restoration of our water bodies.

During the tour, various public delegations called upon Div Com and raised their demands and issues with him. The Div Com assured them that all their genuine issues shall be addressed on priority.

On the occasion, Chairman NLCO Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo said under its Mission Ehsaas, Khushalsar  was restored after three months with the active support of Divisional Commissioner, SMC, LAWDA &  Irrigation Department

“Mission Ehsaas was conceived as an initiative to restore traditional Navigational routes of Kashmir.

The mission was started in the last week of February. Our volunteers worked effortlessly day and night. The  mission was done in collaboration with administration with concerned departments like SMC, IFC and  lately, LAWDA played a positive role in making this initiative a success,” Wangnoo added

Development practitioners Arjimand Hussain Talib and social activist Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat were also present on the occasion.