Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: Waking up to the urgent need of restoring Pokhribal which serves as the main connection of the Nigeen Lake with the rest of the water bodies down the stream, J&K Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) has finally started the cleaning process of the water channel while it is also set to take several other measures aimed at preservation of the same.
The officials of the LCMA told Excelsior that while the basic cleaning of Pokhribal has been carried out, they are also going to ensure that the solid waste which is discharged into the water body is arrested near Nallah Amir Khan.
Vice-Chairman LCMA Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat told Excelsior they are committed to the cleaning of the entire area of Pokhribal which serves as a major connection of Nigeen with the rest of the water bodies and for the overall restoration of the channel, apart from cleaning, there are several plans set to be executed soon.
“So far, we have done the basic cleaning of Pokhribal while the plan is to clean the entire Pokrhibal Channel and also to develop a park at a land available there,” he said.
He said that the cleaning work of the lily in the water body has also been tendered out. “Within a few weeks, that too is going to start aimed at the restoration of the water channel,” he said.
Bhat said that under the Smart City Project, the departments are also eyeing to construct a cycling track from the Nallah Amir Khan STP side and also from the Boat Club side. “That will not only promote the tourism but will also ensure the demarcation of the area,” he said.
Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo who heads NLCO and has been working for cleaning and the restoration of the water bodies in Srinagar told Excelsior that for restoring the Gilsar-Khushalsar lake basin, dredging, demarcation of the boundaries and removal of Radhs, muck and solid waste are a must.
He said that continuous upkeep and cleaning of Nallah Amir Khan as maximum muck and garbage gets flushed through this stream needs to be carried out. “It needs to be done along with cleaning the muck of other vital water channels like Pokhribal, and Khojyarbal etc for free flow of water,” he said.
He also impressed on the need for setting up Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and subsequently connecting drains to the STP and immediate halting of untreated drains emptying into the lake. “Dredging needs to be carried at Pokhribal, along with landscaping of its peripheries,” he said.
It is to be noted here that earlier Excelsior had reported that Pokhribal was fast turning into a cesspool and that there was a need for immediate action, particularly the arrangement for ensuring that the solid waste does not flow into the water channel, ultimately reaching Khushal and Gil sar where the cleaning process is currently on under Nigeen Lake Conservation Organization (NLCO) with support from the administration.
In this regard, Bhat said a proper arrangement for arresting the trash will be put in place at Nallah Amir Khan where a dedicated machine will also be stationed for the lifting of the accumulated trash. “Only that will ensure that Khushal sar and Gil sar remain clean,” he said.
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