Govt mulls Rs 700-crore project for Wular Lake, says minister
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, July 4
Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology Chaudhary Lal Singh today said the government was mulling a Boulevard project for Rs 700 crore to revamp the Wular Lake and its conservation efforts.
At a meeting chaired by him, the minister was informed that the proposed Wular Boulevard project would begin from Garoora to Sopore, covering 34.58 kms of the lake’s periphery. The total perimeter of Wular boundary is 83.6kms.
The minister said the conservation of Wular, besides many other lakes and water bodies in the state was the topmost priority of the government and all necessary measures would be taken in this regard.
“We are working on a Boulevard project coming up along the periphery of Wular Lake that will cost around Rs 700 crore,” Singh said. “The project will be completely eco-friendly and only battery-operated cars would be allowed to ply on the road.”
The minister was informed about the progress of de-silting operation under the comprehensive Wular Conservation and Management Plan (WCMP). He laid stressed on expediting the work to increase the water holding capacity of the lake at the earliest. He underlined the importance of Wular Lake in protecting Kashmir valley from floods by acting as a huge water storage reservoir.
The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Director, Wular Conservation and Management Authority (WCMP), Mian Javed Hussain, Water Management Coordinator Raashid Naqash and other senior officers.
