SRINAGAR: Minister of State for Forest, Environment, Ecology Animal & Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and Cooperative, Mir Zahoor Ahmad today convened a meeting with the officers of Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Corporation (JKSFC), Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) and Lakes & Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to review the release of balance payment of SFC against supply of timber and felling & removal of trees from Dal Lake.
The meeting was attended by the Managing Director, JKSFC Suresh K Gupta, Secretary LAWDA Sumira Shamim and Senior Officers of JKPCC.
Taking stock of balance payment of SFC against supply of timber to JKPCC for construction of heritage “Zero Bridge” at Rajbagh, Srinagar, the Management of the JKPCC informed the meeting that there is some error is balance accounts and apprised the meeting that it should be rectified. The Minister directed the Officers of SFC and JKPCC to convene joint meeting and reconcile the balance payment within a week’s time.
It was informed in the meeting that 1048.24 cft’s of Special Size timber were provided to the JKPCC for construction of heritage “Zero Bridge” at Rajbagh, Srinagar. While taking review LAWDA on account of felling and removal of trees from Dal Lake, the SFC authorities informed in the meeting that an amount of Rs 69 lakh is still outstanding against LAWDA on account of removal of trees. It was also informed in the meeting that Rs 52 lakh have already been paid to JK SFC by the Authority against the total cost of 1.09 crore so far.
Secretary, LAWDA informed the meeting that 80000 tones capacity of Silting Basin at Habak and 5 Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) were established around the Dal to plug the contaminated water into Dal. She also informed that various steps were also taken by the concerned departments for conservation of catchment area.
The meeting was informed that 80 lakh saplings of different species were planted at different places including Dachigam Catchment area, Dignibal, Dara, Khimber and Hadoora villages. It was also given out in the meeting that check dams were constructed over Nallah Dachigam and Mullori. The meeting was informed that the release of balance payment of SFC against supply of timber and felling & removal of trees from Dal Lake would be taken up with the Chief Minister at an earliest for early release of payment.
Addressing the meeting, Mir Zahoor Ahmad asked the Officer of LAWDA to work with utmost dedication and ensure conservation and protection of Dal Lake.
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