Commissioner Secretary Forest, Environment & Ecology, Sarita Chauhan, today inspected Wular lake conservation works being executed by Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUCMA) besides reviewing works being carried out by Forest department under CAMPA in the district.She was accompanied by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Dr. Mohit Gera, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir Farooq Gillani and Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Zahoor Ahmed Mir.Chief Conservator of Forests/Chief Executive Director WUCMA briefed about the progress made in the dredging operations carried out in different sections of the lake. The work of Wular dredging has been taken up on a large scale after UT administration sanctioned Wular Action Plan for Rs 200.00 crore for conservation and management of Wular Lake, he added.Pertinently, the contract had been allotted to RDL-ZYCHL company for an amount of Rs 148.59 crore which started the dredging work for 31 lakh square meters of silted area, of which, 97 thousand square meters of area has been dredged out as on date. The said work when completed will remove 63 lakh cubic meteres of silt from wular lake and will restore the carrying capacity of the lake on that area.
The CED briefed the Commissioner Secretary about progress of catchment conservation works, biodiversity Conservation works and eco-tourism development works which are also under implementation under Wular Action Plan.Commissioner Secretary directed for further accelerating the pace of works to achieve daily target by utilizing all available dredgers. She directed the CED and SE WUCMA to monitor quality and quantity of works and take special note of disposal of the dredged slurry in the identified site only. She also directed to set and monitor daily targets to complete the work within allotted time. She enquired from the site engineer about the capacity available for the work at site and directed WUCMA officials to resolve issues in dyke formation and willow removals and maintain inter-departmental coordination for smooth operation of lake conservation works.Meanwhile, Commissioner Secretary also inspected CAMPA plantation works established by DFO Bandipora. She inspected CAMPA closures established on Baba Shukrudin hillock. The units have been established on refractory sites and at present are fully established providing shelter to wildlife and fodder to livestock. She directed the concerned to estimate valuation of ecological services of established plantation units.Conservator of Forests North Circle, Irfan Rasool Wani, Conservator of Forests, Srinagar Circle, Zubair Ahmad Shah, DFOs Kamraj and Bandipora, Deputy Directors of Forest Protection Force Bandipora and Kupwara were also present on the occasion.