Pokhribal-Gilsar route appears on tourism map
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, June 16: After bringing back the Khushal Sar to its old glory, the Nigeen Lake Conservation Organization (NLCO) under the ‘Mission Ehsaas’ in collaboration with the administration has pushed the machines towards the Gilsar where the process of cleaning has been started.
The phase-wise cleaning of the water bodies in Srinagar has been taken up in collaboration with the administration, locals and the NLCO which is now cleaning the Gilsar Lake-currently in a bad shape.
The Gilsar is adjacent to the already cleaned Khushal Sar which once appeared to be dead and was cleaned in a record 100 days beginning in February. The water body now presents a pristine look.
Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo who is heading the NLCO told EXCELSIOR that the phase-wise cleaning of the water bodies starting from Khushal Sar began on February 21 under Mission Ehsaas and was completed in over 100 days.
After completing the task of cleaning the Khushal Sar and the cleaning work beginning at the Gilsar, the process is also expected to take over 100 days given the fact that the water body has more encroachments in comparison to the Khushal Sar and need to be cleared as the cleaning process goes on.
As per officials, about the encroachments in the Gilsar, the Divisional Administration along with other allied departments will be carrying out the land retrieval process as the cleaning process goes on in days to come.
“In comparison to the muck and garbage that had depleted the Khushal Sar, the Gilsar is far better and should not pose many challenges while the cleaning is carried out,” an official said.
It is to be noted here that the Khushal Sar has now been restored with three navigational routes, the development, which is being termed to have happened for the first time.
“The three navigational routes are, one from Zadibal, another one from the centre and one more from the peripheries of Khusal Sar-and it has happened for the first time,” Wangnoo said.
At present, one heavy cleaning machine provided by the LAWDA is busy cleaning the Gilsar, while the volunteers and other workforces are expected to join the team soon to speed up the process.
It is to be noted here that while the tourists used to pass through Khushal Sar, Gilsar on Shikaras years ago using the navigation route, the same has also been re-started by the Department of Tourism soon after the Khushal Sar regained its lost beauty.
It has been learned that the Shikara Navigation has been started from Pokhribal to Gilsar and once the Gilsar is brought back to its lost glory, the navigation will be extended further.
In this regard, the Department of Tourism has included the navigational route, Pokhribal-Gilsar on its tourism map as well. Also, in the days to come, the water sports are going to be in Pokhribal aimed at the stagnation of the water.
Interestingly, the locals living adjacent to these water bodies are not only contributing to the process of cleaning but have also pledged to keep them clean. “We have taken a pledge and we will make sure that these water bodies remain clean, pristine,” the locals said.
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