Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 30: Stressing the need for allocation of adequate funds for taking up comprehensive and effective conservation and management of State’s wetlands, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey while emphasising the importance of wetland conservation called for full funding of the projects submitted by the State Government to the Centre for implementation of the Conservation and Management Action Plan of wetlands.
Chairing a meeting to review the developmental activities of Wular, Mansar and Tso-Morari lakes here, Chief Secretary underlined the importance of preserving wetlands, terming them vital for maintaining the lifeline and rich and unique bio-diversity.
He asked the concerned to pursue the matter with Government of India and ensure that funds to the tune of Rs 386 crore as earlier projected by the State for Wular Conservation and Management are released. He said Rs 120 crore plan approved by the Centre is not sufficient for carrying out an effective conservation programme.
Chief Executive Officer, Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WUC-MA), Abdul Razzak informed the meeting that 100 per cent demarcation of Wular Lake has been completed. Moreover, the lake area has been classified and identified into 109 micro-water sheds out of which 24 have been prioritized for treatment.
The Chief Executive Officer said that dredging work has been carried out in Naz Nallah and other parts of the lake. Removal of willow and poplar trees is also under progress. He said that till date Rs 30 crore have been released for water management, catchment conservation, survey, demarcation and institutional development, adding that during 2013-14, an amount of Rs 43 crore is envisaged to be utilised under the total Rs 120 cr approved Plan.
Calling for massive afforestation of Mansar-Surinsar catchment area, Chief Secretary said that steps should be taken to prevent soil erosion and arrest flow of silt into the lake. It was informed that under PMRP, Union Government approved a 5 year Action Plan of Rs 3 crore against which Rs 1.33 crore have been released and expenditure of Rs 132.20 crore incurred upto 2012-13. An amount of Rs 52.75 lakh is envisaged to be utilized during 2013-14 for restoration of degraded habitat and other works.
For preservation of Tso-Morari lake, the meeting was informed that an amount of Rs 4.20 cr was approved by the centre, against which Rs 70.50 lakhs have been released and expenditure of Rs 50 lakh incurred upto 2012-13 for monitoring of breeding populations of migratory birds, protection of breeding sites, training and capacity building of local communities and other works.
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