Chief Secretary B B Vyas on Friday chaired the 13th meeting of the Monitoring Committee for Preservation and Conservation of Dal-Nageen Lake.Amicus Curie, Zaffar Ahmad Shah, Special DG, PHQ, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Commissioner/Secretary H&UDD, Secretary Tourism, Secretary, Law Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Secretary (Technical) Forest Department VC LAWDA, and other senior officers were present in the meeting. IGP Kashmir and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir participated in the meeting via video conferencing.The Committee reviewed the progress achieved in regard to formulation of comprehensive legal frame work for the enactment of strong legislation for preservation of all water bodies in the state. Secretary, Department of Law Justice & Parliamentary Affairs informed that the draft bill is being finalized and will be submitted to the State Cabinet shortly.Regarding estimation of pesticides in the Dal lake and conversion of de-weeded material into compost, VC Lawda informed the Committee that the detailed survey carried out jointly by LDA and SKUAST-K has been completed and the preparation of DPR by SKUAST is in progress, besides LAWDA has receivedcommunication from Director, SFRI for dumping of de-weeded biomass from Dal Lake at SFRI – FRS, Haran/Dagpora for converting into vermi compost.
VC LAWDA further informed that physical demarcation of 200-meter zone of Dal-Nageen Lake has been completed by erecting MS poles with proper Signages.He said the Authority has procured 10 Geo tagging apparatus for the purpose. The geo tagging of structures is in process and so far 1321 structures have been geo tagged. The Authority has also has completed the ETS survey of Anchar, Gilsar and Khushalsar and working maps have been prepared besides 80% laying of optical fibre has been completed.The Committee took stock of the status of implementation of the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) with regard to creation of artificial wetlands, rejuvenation of six existing wetlands/retention ponds/reed belts, Water Quality Analysis, Vegetation Mapping and Portable Eco Sounder. The Committee also took stock of the status of purchase of machinery & equipment for the cleaning of Dal-Nigeen lakes from weeds and lily pads and progress on development of Rakh-i-Arth Colony.It was informed that LAWDA has carried out 42 demolition drives in the last five months and so far 59 residential structures and one shopping line have been demolished. Encroachments have also been removed from Government land at Rakh-i-Arth, Ishber and Nageen.IGP, Kashmir informed the Committee that in addition to deployment of over 20 police personnel on daily basis, the required police force is provided by the Police authorities as and when requisitioned for carrying out the demolition drives.
The Committee also reviewed the progress in regard to development of Dole Demb and Rejuvenation and Revival of BrariNambal Lagoon at Srinagar.Vice Chairman LAWDA informed the Committee that removal of Lily pads from the area lying to the right of navigation channel from SKICC to NPL bund is in progress and about 1300 skilled laborers are engaged in the activity, besides the machines available with the Authority have also been pressed into service. So far 2.9 Sq Km area has been cleared from Lily patches both manually and as well as mechanically. The operation has also been extended to Hazratbal Basin, Dockyard and Nishat areas. The deweeding activity has also been extended to outflow channel of Tsuntikul and Khwajayarbal areas. The Authority has resumed the dredging of Hazratbal basin and the total target for the current year has been fixed as 95,000 Cum, out of which 38,000 Cum of Lake bed area has been dredged out. The tendering process for de-silting of settling basin/TeilbalNallah/inflow channels has also been completed and the work is in progress.