J&K Governor working for restoring glory of Dal-Nagin Lake

Srinagar, March 27(Scoop News) — The Governor,  N. N. Vohra today said that for generating awareness about the Dal-Nageen Conservation and Management Project, it is very important that the University and College students are associated with the awareness programme. Further, appropriate information about these conservation-oriented initiatives must be regularly disseminated through the print and electronic media as well as by holding interactive sessions with the people at large.

 The Governor had an extensive visit of Dal and Nageen lakes Saturday afternoon after he had been briefed for over an hour by  Irfan Yasin, Vice Chairman of the LAWDA. The Governor viewed the works being carried out under the Dal-Nageen Conservation and Management Project. He also observed the functioning of the two newly procured state-of-the-art Water Master Classic Machines.

Reviewing the progress on the revival of backwater channels, the Governor emphasized that the people of the area need to own these important channels to ensure their future conservation and maintenance.

Vora observed that to make these programmes increasingly successful, the people residing in the catchment areas shall need to be effectively involved by enlisting their participation in a big way in the Dal-Nageen conservation programme.

On the rehabilitation of the Dal dwellers, the Governor directed that they should be provided smooth transition to a place where modern civic facilities are available.

While reviewing in detail the implementation of the Dal-Nageen Conservation and Management Project, the Governor was briefed by the Vice Chairman of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA),  Irfan Yasin about the various components of the Project. He said that out of an allocation of Rs. 298 crore for the Project, Rs. 160 crore have been spent. The Project under implementation since September 2005 under the National Lakes Conservation Plan of the Union Ministry of Environment is likely to be completed by March 2013.

 Yasin stated that under the Project, 36 million litres per day capacity five Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) are being installed, out of which three have already been commissioned, while the remaining two are scheduled to be commissioned by March 2011. To connect these STPs with houses, 79 kilometre long lateral secondary sewers are being laid, of which 52 kilometre have already been laid. Similarly, out of 27 kilometre main sewer line, 23 kilometre has been laid.

Under peripheral sanitation programme, the people residing in the peripheral areas are being brought under low cost sanitation scheme. A buffer zone is also being created to check the flow of silt in the lake. To control non-point source pollution, massive Catchment Area Development Programme in 12 Micro Watersheds is also underway. Under this programme, anti-soil erosion measures like check-dams, retards, pasture development, silviculture and afforestation are being taken up.

The Governor was informed that the two multi-functional Water Master Classic Machines received recently from Finland can do dredging, dragging of radhs, pile work, de-weeding etc. Seven more machines are expected to be received by LAWDA by middle of May this year.

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