Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: To divert the State Government’s attention towards the abnormal situation created due to formation of an artificial lake in Zanaskar area over one month back due to the blockage of the river Therab due to a 120 metre long landslide, All Zanaskar Students Association (AZSA) today staged a protest demonstration in front of Press Club here.
The demonstration was led by Thundup Wangyal president of the Association. The protestors said though the matter has been brought in the notice of both Central and State Government authorities, no effective steps were taken to drain out the water of the artificial lake created by landslide in the area.
Terming it a serious issue, the protestors said that if effective steps were not taken the artificial lake will spell a doom in low lying area and damage the property.
The protestors urged the State Government as well as Union Government authorities at the helm of affairs to take immediate steps in draining out the water from artificial lake and save the ecology of the area.
Meanwhile, the Executive Councilor of LAHDC, Kargil from Zanaskar area Mr Sakalzang who made an aerial survey of the area twice along with Deputy Commissioner, Kargil after people of the hilly belt raised a hue and cry over the formation of artificial lake which they apprehend can spell a doom in the low lying areas said that 30 mohallas in downstream of the river are facing threat in the event of a sudden breach in this lake as the flood water will washout these villages completely.
He said people in low-lying areas pass sleepless nights since the blockage of the river on December 31 last year due to landslide.
He said, besides the general infrastructure like bridges, including 15 wooden bridges and 10 other bridges, irrigation canals and roads in the low-lying areas will be damaged completely as 14 metre long lake has been formed in the up streams of river Therab.
He demanded that the National Disaster Management (NDM) team be deployed in the area to find out an easy way for draining out of the water of lake.
Mr Skalzang said that the issue was taken up by him with Governor, N N Vohra, Union Home Minster, Raj Nath Singh and Prime Minister, Narendra Modi as he submitted memorandas to them seeking immediate intervention in the matter.
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