Baramulla/Srinagar, October 8 (Scoop News) – Union Secretary for Environment and Ecology T. Chaterji reviewed the Centrally funded Rs. 386 crore Action Plan for Wular Construction and Management Projection at a meeting of high level officers held at Bandipora today,
Commissioner Secretary Forests Shant Manu, Principal Chief Conservator Forest R.D. Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Manzoor Ahmed Lone, DFO Bandipora Maqbool Rather and senior officers of the Forest Department were present in the meeting.
The meeting discussed threadbare various measures with regard to maintaining of environment, dredging of lakes, removal of plantation and encroachments and other issues for the effective implementation of the action plan for conservation and management of international level wetland “ Wular”.
Chaterji stressed for constitution of a Committee of various connected departments for close monitoring and utilization of funds being provided by the Central government for the purpose.
He emphasized upon executing agencies to start the survey and demarcation of the lake on priority so that development and conservation work is started immediately. He said while implementing the action plan, necessary measures for development of catchment area, eco- tourism development, livelihood improvement of the inhabitants living across the lake Wular be taken care off.
Chaterji told that Central government has approved to release Rs. 120 crore in the Ist phase of the development and conservation of the lake. He said that a circular road is proposed to be constructed around the lake; besides the 500 years old Zainolonk constructed by the Sultan Zainul- Abdin Budshah would be renovated and developed on modern lines.
The Secretary was given a power point presentation of Chittirnor Bandipora with regard to the conservation and management of action plan for wular lake.
Later the secretary visited various spots of the lake and took stock of the present dimension of the lake. He gave necessary instructions for the speedy implementation of the action plan for development and construction of Wular lake.