Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh has said that the Government has undertaken a massive programme for developing all the three regions of the State keeping in view the environmental concerns and other related things.The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing a huge gathering at Mir Bahri after conducting comprehensive and extensive tour of the Dal Lake interiors to get first hand information about the measures being taken for the conservation of this world famous water body and also the problems being faced by the people living in its catchment areas.Vice Chairman, Lakes and Water Ways Development Authority (LAWDA) Mr. Sarmad Hafiz and other senior officers of LAWDA, SMC and district administration accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister.
“Ever since the Government took over it has been our endeavor to accelerate the pace of development of all the regions of the State and in this regard several programmes have been initiated, which would go a long way in ensuring that the people get the much required facilities at par with other metro cities”, he said and maintained that the matter of smart cities has already been taken up with the Centre. The Deputy Chief asked people to be proactive and provide their feedback about the various programmes so that they can be made need and area specific and also completed within the stipulated time frame. “The people should come forward with their suggestions and requirements as well to play a participatory role which is essential in a democratic set up”, he maintained.
While inspecting the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) at Brari Nambal, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure that these STPs are functioning properly, so that the environmental concerns of Dal and other water bodies are addressed in a scientific manner. He also directed the officers to ensure that the dumping of waste and other related materials is not done in the lakes, rivers and other water bodies which would go a long way in checking their degradation.
Dr. Nirmal Singh also asked the officers to ensure that the illegal constructions are not done in the catchment areas of Dal and other water bodies. He said strict vigil should be done in order to check the violations and strict action would be taken against those flouting the norms.