J&K Committee seeks conservation of Dal Lake

SRINAGAR: World famous Dal Lake and other water bodies, which are major tourist attraction in Jammu and Kashmir, need to be conserved, a committee of the state assembly said on Wednesday.
 
"Dal Lake has suffered badly in the past and needs to be restored with the coordinated efforts of all agencies including NGOs, intellectuals and educational institutions," Environment Committee Chariman and National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar said.

A meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly's Environment Committee was held in the backdrop of a tour of Dal and Nagin lakes by its members a couple of months back.

The committee also asked Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) to involve experts in conservation programmes and them take long-term measures to protect the lake.

While taking such measures, the rehabilitation of Dal dwellers should be ensured in a systematic manner, it added.

The committee reviewed the decisions taken during a meeting held with various representatives of house boat union and LAWDA for protecting the lakes.
 
"The members of the committee also reviewed the measures initiated to protect the environment and natural resources especially the water bodies, as they are the mainstay of state's economy and major source of tourist attraction," Sagar said.
 
The committee asked LAWDA to submit a status paper on the points and suggestions made by experts and representatives of various organisations on the subject with necessary comments.

It also sought a complete ban on polythene bags in the city here.