Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 2: Expressing concern over the pollution levels and quantity of weeds having come up in Dal Lake, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today directed pacing up of conservation and de-weeding activities in the world famous lake. She said she would be herself monitoring the cleaning up of the lake periodically.
The Chief Minister gave these directions during a visit to the interiors of the lake this morning during which she personally took stock of the weeds, algal growth and pollution having cropped up over the years. She enquired about the various measures being taken for controlling the algal growth and dumping of the weed material.
Mehbooba Mufti was informed that the LAWDA has already intensified de weeding efforts in the lake and at present 500 labourers have been pressed for the manual de weeding. During the last two months, the Chief Minister was informed that nine lakh cubic metres of weeds have been removed from the lake rendering a large area of waters as weed free.
The Chief Minister was informed that two studies at SKUAST-K have been commissioned for proper dumping and decomposition of weed material besides a biological solution for arresting the algal growth in the lake is also in the experimentation stage.
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Mehbooba Mufti directed urgent de weeding of the Ashai Bagh track of the lake and cleaning of exit channels at Rainawari, Nawpora and Mir Behree for movement of clean waters through the lake.
The Chief Minister, during the visit, also took stock of the working of the Sewerage Treatment Plants and machines deployed for weed removal in the lake.
Minister of State for Housing & Urban Development, Asiea Naqash; legislators, Noor Muhammad Sheikh and Khursheed Alam; Chief Secretary, B. B. Vyas; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Commissioner-Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, Hridesh Kumar; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan; Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed; Vice Chairman, LAWDA, Abdul Hafeez Masudi; Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr. Shafqat Khan, other senior officers and a large number of people were present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, while addressing a function organized by Srinagar Municipal Corporation, the Chief Minister said maintenance of clean environs has been accorded a sacred duty in every religion. “Cleanliness is Godliness”, she said, adding “even in Islam the concept of Wudhu is based on the principle of ensuring cleanliness of the individual and the society”.
Mehbooba Mufti complimented the workers of SMC and other civic bodies in the State for working round the clock to make the streets, lanes, parks and other public places clean for people. She said these are the people who should merit the attention and awards from the system and the society.
The Chief Minister on the occasion awarded the best performing workers of the SMC.
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