Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 17: Government today informed the Legislative Assembly that boundary demarcation of Wular Lake has been completed and nearly 5 sq km of critically silted area was restored through desiltation as part of extensive conservation and restoration measures underway at the lake.
Replying to a question by MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, the Forest, Ecology & Environment Department said the Wular Conservation Management Authority (WUCMA) has taken several significant steps for the restoration of Wular Lake, a Ramsar site of international importance.
The Government said boundary demarcation has been completed through installation of 1,159 geo-referenced RCC pillars using GPS and remote sensing technology.
The revenue area of Wular Lake is 130 sq km, which has helped in effective protection of the lake and prevention of further encroachments, the Government said.
It said desiltation works have restored about 5.0 sq km of critically silted lake area by dredging 78.43 lakh cubic metres of silt, thereby enhancing the lake’s water-holding capacity.
Further, it said, bund consolidation has been undertaken by strengthening earthen embankments along vulnerable stretches aggregating about 15 km, with the twin objectives of preventing encroachments and providing flood buffering to local communities residing around Wular Lake.
On ongoing and proposed interventions, the Government said removal of siltation and encroachments is being taken up through a revenue-based dredging model in critically silted areas of Banyari and Kanyari.
Continuous monitoring and enforcement measures are being carried out to prevent fresh encroachments.
Under embankment management and beautification/ eco-tourism initiatives, construction of the Non-Motorable Wular Walkway Phase-I (2.5 km) at Banyari-S.K. Payeen is under execution by the R&B Department at a cost of Rs 18.73 crore.
The project includes cycling tracks, lookout points and jetties. Construction of the Non-Motorable Walkway Phase-II is under process and is expected to be taken up in the next financial year.
Upgradation of Delta Park, Banyari at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore is currently under execution, while Gurura Park is being upgraded at a cost of Rs 4.70 crore.
Construction of Eco-Park at Ningli, Sopore at a cost of Rs 4.90 crore is also under execution.
Under biodiversity conservation and protection measures, two watchtowers equipped with CCTV cameras have been constructed and four additional CCTV cameras are being installed during the current year.
Scientific studies have also been undertaken to generate baseline ecological and hydrological data for informed management of the lake.
In response to a related question on whether suspension of the Indus Water Treaty has had any impact on the overall treatment of the lake, the department stated that the issue does not pertain to Wular Lake conservation.
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