Wular gets Rs 700 crore boost to charm tourists

Paradise is on a high as one of Asia's largest fresh water lakes is all set to charm the tourists with its breathtaking beauty.

Situated in north Kashmir's Bandipora, the Wular Lake will be developed as Eco-tourism destination to woo the tourists to the breathtaking water body.

Jammu and Kashmir government is mulling to establish 34.58 kilometres boulevard at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore to revamp the picturesque Wular lake.

"We are working on a Boulevard project coming up along the periphery of Wular Lake that will cost around Rs 700 crore," said Chaudhary Lal Singh, Jammu and Kashmir minister for forests, environment and ecology.

Official figures reveal that total perimeter of Wular boundary is 83.6km and the proposed boulevard project will begin from Garoora to Sopore, covering around 34.58km of its periphery.

The project will be completely eco-friendly and only battery driven cars would be allowed to ply on the road. Under Eco-Tourism plan, various look-out points, wooden ghats, tourist information centres, parking areas, besides many other initiatives would be undertaken and developed around the lake.

Massive slitting, rampant plantation, unabated encroachment, untreated sewerage and solid waste dumping have adversely affected the eco system of the lake. Coupled with man's greed, the lake in north Kashmir's Bandipora district is dying a silent death.

Official figures reveal that the area of the Wular Lake was 217.58 sqkm, including 58.37sqkm of associated marshes in 1911. As per the new revenue records of Jammu and Kashmir, the actual lake area excluding the associated marshes has now shrunk to 130 sqkm.

"Entire periphery of the lake had been demarcated as per authentic revenue record which indicates a lake area of 130sqkm. As many as 1,159 geo-tagged boundary pillars have been erected delineating the lake boundary from the adjoining areas," said an official spokesman

Given the huge biodiversity values, the lake was declared Ramsar site in 1990. But the conservation process started only in 2011 when the centre agreed to pay Rs 120 crore in four installments for preserving the lake from becoming extinct.

Under the the 13th Finance Commission, Rs 120 crore were sanctioned for conservation and protection measures in Wular Lake, out of which Rs 60 crore already stand allotted.

"Conservation of Wular and other lakes in the state is the top most priority of the Government and all necessary measures will be taken in this regard," said Singh.