The Dal Lake has been very much in news ever since LAWDA came into existence and unfortunately for bad things only. If LAWDA had made even one half of the achievements in regard to cleaning the Dal and restoring it to its original purity, all aberrations associated with the LAWDA would have become less disgusting? LAWDA has become synonymous with corruption, bribery and misappropriation. The manner in which Dal Lake bank is encroached and the manner in which illegal constructions and structures are coming up forced the Division Bench of the High Court to take up the PIL and pursue the entire matter connoted with the subject. The High Court appointed Commissioner on Dal Lake to conduct physical inspection of the entire alleged encroachments and submit its report to the Court.
Court Commissioner’s report is now before the Division Bench. It is a sordid story of corruption, nepotism and defiance of the court orders with impunity. The report has blamed one Saddam Zaroo to have illegally fenced a large plot of 3 kanals of land in close proximity of Hazratbal shrine on the bank of the Dal Lake although that is a prohibited area for raising any kind of structure. Because the above named capitalist is enjoying political patronage and has a strong clout in the political leadership circles of the State, his illegal activity is not taken note of either by the Dal Lake Authority or by the Municipal Corporation or by the Department of Environment and Ecology. How come that all authorities have closed their eyes to the illegal act of raising a structure on 3 kanals of land at a prestigious site where raising of structures is prohibited.
Encroachment and raising of illegal structures continues in and around Srinagar. The Court Commissioner’s report names another canal Tsunt Kol, which, after the Commissioner visited the site found to be choked by having dumped filth and refuse in it. It has totally dried up and no more serves the purpose for which it had been dug.
The point is that the Government authorities are not moving fast and with determination to remove illegal structures. Obviously, the functionaries who are supposed to take the matter seriously but are not doing so are in league with those who have money power and are wielding great influence. How can be the Dal preserved if these broad day irregularities are allowed to happen. The Government should take serious note of the existing conditions of water bodies, nullahs and the lakes if the ecology of the State is to be safeguarded.
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