Save water bodies

Sir,
I have read in detail the report regarding Union Minister Jairam Ramesh comments about his action plan for saving water bodies in state which needs encouragement with caution as we have been hearing a lot of those rhetoric for past so many years without any real action.
I have to mention about the observations and solutions advised by I & FC department engineers' which needs encouragement as we could see the whole Srinagar City floating as no attention is paid towards dredging the channels or blocked overflow storm drains / runoffs .
I would recommend Floating excavator barges with controlled dredging and terminal discharge for reclamation which will prove faster and effective. Based on our long experience in Dredging and Marine industry we had advised previous regimes about various cost effective solutions by Long Boom excavator barges and floating pontoon dredging pumps which could not only provide a long lasting solution but also offer livelihood to the people of Kashmir. Dredgers, if maintained properly can have a minimum life of about 20-30 years especially when working in fresh waters, a repair solution could be explored for the available Watermaster dredgers thereby reducing the cost of procurement of new dredgers which could be utilized in settlement of displaced people, "I wish to point out that most of the dredgers manufactured by international companies do not comply to the specifications of silt and mud dredging" which is the case in J&K considering the fact that most of the silt is deposited with fragments of clay.
I would feel privileged to respond to any enquiries or help required by decision makers subject to their commitment to prove "Actions speaks louder than words".
Yours etc...

Munir Ahmad Mufti
Division Manager.
Union Dredgers & Marine Cont.Co.LLC.
P O Box 85348. Dubai,
United Arab Emirates.
email:munir@unionderdgers.com

II

Sir,
This has reference to the news item :"Ramesh assures help to conserve water bodies " It is highly welcome step of Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh that he agreed that State Govt. needs over Rs 1700 crore for implementing projects to preserve word famous Dal Lake, Wullar lake and river Jhelum. He also assured the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that he will put his full weight to get sanctioned Rs 386 crore proposal for the conservation of the Wullar lake. Moreover, he expressed his optimism to take tangible measures to implement Project Snow Leopard on the pattern of Project Tiger and would shortly come up with the measure to control the depletion of glaciers.
On the same line, Govt. should pay heed to dying twin lakes at Mansar and Surinsar. The bridle path of 16 kms from Mansar to Surinsar is still under repairs .
The small piece of land at the center of Surinsar lake is worth seeing which is unmatchable in the whole state .Birds and animals kept in the park at Mansar are at the verge of extinction which ones represented great variety.
Aquatic animals are not getting proper breeding ground. So they are on the course of vanishing. It is an appeal to the Center and State Govt. that these two sites should be developed as tourist spots on modern pattern as they have lot economic potential which will add to the exchequer of the state.
Yours etc...

Lukhinder Singh
Hiranagar

Clear Mubharak Mandi of anti-social elements

Sir,
This has reference to the serious concern expressed by the people living in the vicinity of one of the historical sites of Jammu - Mubharak Mandi. The residents avoid visiting the Mubharak Mandi Park and the premises during morning and evening hours due to presence of drug-peddlers and the abusive language used by them, lot of stray dogs, monkeys and other animals which can be aggressive towards the morning and evening walkers etc. The serious problem of drug-peddlers should be addressed by the local law-enforcing authorities while Jammu Municipal Committee should ensure the remedy regarding stray animals.
Yours etc.....

Jeet Dogra
TUI India, New Delhi

Welcome tourists

Sir,
It feels absurd on knowing how travel agents charge hefty amounts from tourists when they visit our State. The tourists then feel dismayed, and take with them bad impressions of the State.
The travel agents should know that tourists support our economy and provide jobs to thousands of people. If we treat them understand that our State is capable of being No 1 preferred Tourist destination, but we can maintain this and treat them very well.badly we need to status only when we respect them

Yours etc....
Aditya Raina
Bangalore