Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 17: Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry and several other organizations during an interactive session here today discussed various measures for the preservation of world famous Dal Lake at Srinagar city which is shrinking fast.
The interaction was presided over by Tufail Mattoo, vice chairman LAWDA and Zaffar Shah, senior lawyer and Amicus Curie and was attended by experts including Prof SA Romshoo, HoD Earth Sciences Kashmir University, Saleem Beig, Environmentalist and former DG Tourism; Irfan Yasin, former VC LAWDA; Yasin Tuman and Ghulam Rasool Akhoon representing Dal Dwellers; Wahid Malik president Kashmir Hotels and Restaurants Association (KHAROF); Abdul Rashid Kolu, general secretary Houseboat Association, Ghulam Rasool Siah former president Houseboat Association, Shamim Shah from Tourism Trade and others.
The Kashmir Chamber was represented by Nasir Hamid Khan, senior vice president, Dr AM Mir junior vice president and Manzoor Pakhtoon, treasurer.
Nasir Khan while welcoming the members stated that the KCC&I, as part of it’s policy of social and environmental responsibility, was keen to support the efforts for preservation of the Dal Lake and redressal of problems of people associated with it. He said the discussions would help in identifying issues like pollution by disposal of major drains which emptied tonnes of phosphorous and inorganic nitrogen, millions of litres of sewage being flushed into water bodies like Dal and Jhelum due to incapacity of the STP’s to treat them, need for mapping of encroachments, maintaining of desirable water levels and regular flushing, delays in execution of projects, strengthening of enforcement unit, choking of streams and canals, deweeding and dredging operations, plantation drives to prevent soil erosion, suitable rehabilitation of the dwellers and facilities for smooth operation of business establishments including hotels and houseboats.
Zaffar Shah apprised the participants about the preservation of Dal Lake being an multidimensional issue comprising of environmental, scientific, humanitarian, economic and legal issues which required an cooperative effort from all stakeholders. He stated that regulation of the existing commercial establishments including hotels, houseboats and residential areas needed to be seen in light of their functional needs as well as the conservation of the lake. He said the society needed to take a comprehensive view for preservation of all water bodies like Dal, Nageen, Khusalsar, Wular, Jhelum etc.
Prof Romshoo said that although the 25 sq km area of the lake had remained at a constant since decades, there had been rapid reduction in the water surface due to increasing area under land mass, habitation and vegetation. Saleem Beig expressed concern over the massive reduction in water and glacier budgeting in J&K and underlined the importance of an integrated approach for preservation of the ecosystem.
Yasin Tuman and Ghulam Rasool Akhoon stated that the dwellers were targets of negative portrayal by the newspapers and social media. Giving specific examples, they stated that they were victims of non-compliance of court directions, involvement of multiple agencies, funding issues and Governmental delays in policy implementation which had caused severe disruptions in their lives including depriving their children of proper education.
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