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J&K Governor sets deadline for Dal Lake conservation

Srinagar: Concerned with the shrinking of the famed Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra has set a deadline of March 2009 for completion of the mega drainage and sewerage project for Srinagar and called for setting up a task force to ensure round-the-clock work on the scheme.

Mr. Vohra said only after completion of the sewerage project, apart from evolving a scientific treatment to ensure proper garbage disposal, inflow of toxic effluents into the lake could be prevented.

For this purpose, a master plan must be worked out to ensure completion of all works by March 2009, he said while reviewing the Dal-Nageen Lake Conservation and Management Plan here.

He said besides expediting work on Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPS), the time frame for completion of lateral connectivity in the designated areas needs to be met and called for establishing a 24-hour task force for the purpose.

In this regard, inter-departmental interactions under one roof would help in plugging the bottlenecks in executing the project, Mr. Vohra observed during the review.

This assumes significance in view of the limited working season available in the Valley, he said adding that it would ensure insulation in the battle against time and cost escalations at the same time.

The Governor also stressed on the need to launch a mass movement, effectively involving NGOs, civil society and interest groups, students and the general public at large to conserve the lake, which he described as the soul of Kashmir.

He particularly pinned hope on youngsters and observed that they should come forward in a big way to restore the pristine glory of the water body.

He also called for the satellite imaging of the lake to ascertain its latest status. -- PTI

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