Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh today toured various areas of the Dal Lake to get firsthand experience of the cleaning operations of the Lake undertaken by LAWDA.He was accompanied by Minister of State for Housing &Urban Development, Asiea Naqash, Minister of State for Power, Hajj and Auqaf, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi and MLC Surinder Ambardar.VC LAWDA, Dr Hafiz Shah, VC SDA, Commissioner SMC, and other concerned officers accompanied the Minister.On the occasion, Dr. Singh said that all stakeholders must join hands to save the prized heritage of Kashmir. He said that everyone is an equal stakeholder in keeping the Dal Lake clean and free from pollution.Saying that Dal Lake is one of the main attractions for the tourists, Dr Singh said that clean Dal Lake will attract more tourists to Kashmir.He said that Government is committed to provide employment opportunities to youth and boost trade and tourism in Kashmir. He said that all the facilities would be provided to the inhabitants of Rakh-e-Arath and directed officers to ensure timely relocation of all Dal dwellers.
On the occasion, Ms Naqash said that keeping the Dal clean is the responsibility of all the stakeholders. He said workers engaged in the extraction of weeds from the Lake have put in their hard work and is appreciable.She expressed satisfaction with the 2.8km long cleaning operation carried out in the Dal Lake and hoped that cleaning operation would continue till the lost glory of Dal Lake is restored.VC LAWDA said that about the operations going on in the Dal Lake would continue and informed that besides, cleaning machines more than 1300 labourers are currently deployed in the cleaning operations.