Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Apr 1: After achieving success in cleaning Khushal Sar near Gil Kadal, the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organization (NLCO) has now, for the first time, shifted focus on the cleaning from the eastern side of the water body-pivotal for ensuring free flow of the water-while as connecting drains with the STPs as well as the demarcation of the water body to prevent encroachments remains a pressing issue.
The eastern side of the water body, it has been learned, has been never cleaned so far while the water body which once had free-flowing, clean water, has been turned into a marshy land; filled with solid wastes discharged directly into it.
The locals living from the Zadibal side have lauded NLCO for starting a cleaning process of the water body which they said could result in the rejuvenation of the same, apart from adding new lease of life to the once-forgotten water body.
Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo who heads NLCO told Excelsior that the cleaning of the Eastern (Zadibal) side of Khushal Sar will give the water body a new lease of life and under the phase-2 of Mission Ehsaas, an altogether new dimension will be added to the campaign which has been started to rejuvenate the water bodies in Srinagar.
“The eastern side of the lake is pivotal to the free flow of water and a major contributor to the opening of traditional navigation routes. It is in place to mention that after the huge success of Mission Ehsaas, more and more local community and stakeholders participated in this public-led campaign,” he said.
Earlier, it is to be noted here that NLCO started the process of cleaning Khushal Sar near Gilkadal and achieved much success in that after the initiative was joined by several other departments apart from active support from the district and divisional administration.
After NLCO’s success in the cleaning process, the residents of Zadibal urged the organization to carry out cleaning for the revival and rejuvenation of the water body.
“Upon witnessing the sustained efforts of NLCO towards restoration and revival of the almost dead lake (Khushalsar), it is perhaps for the first time in history that the people from Zadibal side invited someone to start cleaning the water body,” Wangnoo said.
He stressed that there is a need for connecting all the drains flowing directly into the water bodies, Khushal Sar, in this case, and that there is a need for carrying out the necessary demarcation to prevent encroachments.
After the request from the residents, Wangnoo said, team NLCO immediately deployed the machine in the waters of the eastern side and on the day-3 day huge mounds of solid waste, muck and landmass have been collected from the lake and that the same is going to continue for now.
NLCO said that they are thankful to Divisional Administration for the supervision and SMC for the necessary assistance in disposing of the muck collected from the water body.
The locals however said that a sustained cleaning effort will provide a way towards the goal of opening the traditional navigation route and will have a positive impact on the free flow of water of Nallah Amir Khan, Nigeen and ultimately Dal Lake.
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